The documentation for the device being connected should indicate the signaling standard used for that device. Each standard defines the signals on the cable, and specifies the connector at the end of the cable. SignalingĪ number of different standards defines the signaling over a serial cable (including EIA/TIA-232, X.21, V.35, EIA/TIA-449, EIA-530, and HSSI). Refer to the drawings to identify the connector that you need. If the connector has holes to accept the pins, the connector is female. If pins protrude from the base of the connector, the connector is male. The gender of the connector is determined by examining the connector. * Selectable devices usually have a jumper, switch, or software command used to select DTE or DCE. Terminals, Data Service Unit/Channel Service Unit (DSU/CSU), Multiplexors If you cannot find the information in the documentation, use the following general guidelines to help you select the proper class: The documentation provided with the device should indicate whether it is DTE or DCE (some devices have a jumper to select either mode). The most important difference between these types of devices is that the DCE device supplies the clock signal that paces the communications on the bus.

DTE or DCE?ĭevices that communicate over a serial interface are divided into two classes: DTE and DCE.

With the answers to these questions, along with the model of your router, you can find the part number of the cable required from the tables that follow. What signaling standard does the device require? Is a male or female connector required on the cable? Is the router being connected to a data terminal equipment (DTE) or data communications equipment (DCE) device? The selection of the proper serial cable involves answering three questions: This document guides you through the process of selecting the right serial cables for your network. There are so many different serial cables, with seemingly similar features, finding the correct cable can be tricky. One of the critical parts of setting up any router is the selection of the serial cables to connect the router to the serial devices in your network. Conventionsįor more information on document conventions, see the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions. If you are working in a live network, ensure that you understand the potential impact of any command before using it. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. The information presented in this document was created from devices in a specific lab environment. This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions. There are no specific requirements for this document.

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