One of the jobs of a router is to connect networks that have physically different transmission media. Twisted-pair Ethernet is extremely common these days, but fiber (Ethernet, SONET/OC, and others) is used for most high-speed or long-distance runs, and different types of layer-2 and layer-1 networks have been used in the past and are still in use today, such as T1/T3 lines, ISDN, and Token Ring.

For historical reasons, serial cables such as HSSI may be used to connect equipment such as T1/T3 terminating devices. These will show up as interface SerialN, and you can get detailed information on the hardware installed in a router with show controllers serial.

Unfortunately, "DCE/DTE" technically applies to a number of different hardware signaling schemes. In the context of networking, it's most likely to refer to a serial interface that's used to connect to a WAN drop.

In the case of your simulator, you should practice with both types of interfaces. In most business networks, the "inside" interfaces will be Ethernet, while the WAN interface will be either serial or Ethernet depending on what service the telco is providing, and you'll need to be able to configure either one.

Answer from chrylis -cautiouslyoptimistic- on Stack Exchange
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Cisco
cisco.com › support › product support › routers › cisco 800 series routers › troubleshooting technotes
Serial Cable Connection Guide - Cisco
Is a male or female connector required on the cable? ... 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. Devices that communicate over a serial interface are divided into two classes: DTE and DCE.
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OpenThread
openthread.io › guides › border-router › serial-cables
Connecting a USB Serial Cable to the Border Router | OpenThread
January 24, 2025 - Use a USB serial cable to connect to your Border Router serial port for debugging purposes.
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Cisco
cisco.com › c › en › us › support › docs › routers › 7200-series-routers › 12219-17.pdf pdf
Serial Cable Connection Guide Contents Introduction Prerequisites Requirements
specifies the connector at the end of the cable. The documentation for the device being connected · should indicate the signaling standard used for that device. If you cannot find the information in the · documentation, use the illustrations below to select the signaling standard required. Select the · connector that will mate with the connector on your device, rather than the illustration that looks
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One of the jobs of a router is to connect networks that have physically different transmission media. Twisted-pair Ethernet is extremely common these days, but fiber (Ethernet, SONET/OC, and others) is used for most high-speed or long-distance runs, and different types of layer-2 and layer-1 networks have been used in the past and are still in use today, such as T1/T3 lines, ISDN, and Token Ring.

For historical reasons, serial cables such as HSSI may be used to connect equipment such as T1/T3 terminating devices. These will show up as interface SerialN, and you can get detailed information on the hardware installed in a router with show controllers serial.

Unfortunately, "DCE/DTE" technically applies to a number of different hardware signaling schemes. In the context of networking, it's most likely to refer to a serial interface that's used to connect to a WAN drop.

In the case of your simulator, you should practice with both types of interfaces. In most business networks, the "inside" interfaces will be Ethernet, while the WAN interface will be either serial or Ethernet depending on what service the telco is providing, and you'll need to be able to configure either one.

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For the sake of completeness: Serial links are not solely used for gateway-WAN connections.

For instance, there are companies which host your network equipment and link your device via serial link to their infrastructure. Although your device is online with a public address, it still is not a DTE-like topology.

Another even more LAN-related serial link may be used on a daily basis by yourself and your colleagues: USB. Since USB does not only connect an end device to a storage device, but is also hosts to networks. An example for a host-to-LAN connection would be a tablet user currently being dislocated from a WAP. Because tablets usually do not have an Ethernet interface, a work-around is necessary. An example for a host-to-WAN connection would be field personnel accessing mobile broadband services via a pluggable antenna.

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Pcm-cable
pcm-cable.com › home › knowledges › how do i connect a cisco router using a smart serial cable?
How do I connect a Cisco router using a smart serial cable? - Knowledge - PCM
November 13, 2024 - To connect a Cisco router using a Cisco smart serial cable, simply connect one end of the cable to the smart serial interface on the router, and the other end to the corresponding device, such as a WAN interface card (WIC) or another router ...
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YouTube
youtube.com › gurutech networking training
How to Connect Routers Using Serial Cable (Serial DCE & DTE) | Connect Two Routers Using Serial Link - YouTube
Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxJkPCIi5Tras0_Y8e54ZKA/join
Published   October 16, 2022
Views   20K
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Packet Tracer Labs
packettracerlab.com › serial-connection-explanation-and-configuration-in-packet-tracer
Serial connection explanation and configuration in packet tracer - packettracerlab.com
February 23, 2026 - Even on cisco routers, organizations prefer PPP protocol over HDLC protocol due to its advance features and benefits. In this lab, we will configure a Serial Connection between the routers. We will set up a clock rate at 56000, which will provide the speed of 56 Kbps. In a real world, the DCE side of the cable is configured by the service provider.
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YouTube
youtube.com › john yonan
Configuring a Serial Interface Connection Between Two Routers - Cisco CCNA Training - YouTube
Connecting two Cisco routers utilizing a serial cable and setting the DCE Clock Rate. In addition, how to install interface cards into a router. LinkedIn: ht...
Published   May 1, 2016
Views   54K
Find elsewhere
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Quora
quora.com › What-is-a-serial-port-on-a-router-used-for
What is a serial port on a router used for? - Quora
This cable is called a Yost Cable, and has a DB9 connector on one end and an RJ45 on the other. This cable is also called a Rollover Cable. You have to use a special SSH application like puTTY to interface with the router’s console. ... That serial port is what’s called the console port.
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MikroTik Documentation
help.mikrotik.com › docs › spaces › ROS › pages › 328139 › Serial+Console
Serial Console - RouterOS - MikroTik Documentation
March 6, 2024 - This type of port is used on ... to communicate with devices and other systems that are connected to the router via the serial port using a /system serial-terminal command....
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CertForums
certforums.com › threads › when-to-use-serial-cables-to-connect-routers.31525
When to use serial cables to connect routers? | CertForums
This is a bit of a novice question but when do you use serial cables for conecting routers, i thought ethernet cat cables and fibres would always be...
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CCNA TUTORIALS
ccnatutorials.in › home › packet tracer
Connecting Two Routers in Packet Tracer Using a Serial Cable - CCNA TUTORIALS
September 23, 2023 - You can find routers in the “Routers” category of the Devices panel. Serial Cables: Ensure you have serial cables available in Packet Tracer. You can find these cables in the “Copper Straight-through” or “Serial DCE” category of the Connections panel. You may also like to read -- Configure and verify EtherChannel (LACP)
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Chron.com
smallbusiness.chron.com › receive-serial-signal-ethernet-47060.html
How to Receive a Serial Signal With Ethernet
November 22, 2017 - Nevertheless, a serial-to-Ethernet ... router or switch. Connect a standard Ethernet cable to the "LAN" or "WAN" port on the serial-to-Ethernet converter if connecting to a hub, router or switch....
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AliExpress
aliexpress.com › s › wiki-ssr › article › router-serial-cable
Router Serial Cable: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right One for Your Network Setup
A router serial cable connects a computer to a router's console port for configuration. It uses RS232, USB, or RJ45 interfaces. Choosing the right cable depends on the router model and OS compatibility. Rollover cables ensure correct pinout for Cisco devices.
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Cisco Community
community.cisco.com › t5 › switching › which-serial-cable-i-need-to-connect-serial-port-of-2-routers › td-p › 1737767
Solved: Which Serial cable i need to connect serial port of 2 Routers - Cisco Community
March 7, 2019 - Take a look at the serial interface, are they 60 pin interfaces? If yes, you need a DTC to DCE serial cable to connect your routers back to back ... The interface types have to be the same. I have never seen a cable with one side serial 60 pins and the other side Rj45.
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Google Sites
sites.google.com › site › bhabanisankarsamantrayhome › home › 2-router-configuration-using-cisco-packet-tracer
Bhabani Sankar Samantray - 2 router configuration using cisco packet tracer
(Steps to add the serial port to Router is click on the Router à click on HWIC-2T slot(The HWIC-2T is a Cisco 2-Port Serial High-Speed WAN Interface Card, providing 2 serial ports.) à click on zoom in button à switch off the power button ...
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Cisco
cisco.com › home › support › product support › routers › cisco 800 series routers › install and upgrade guides
Connecting the Router - Cisco
July 30, 2014 - Connect a terminal or PC to the ... port on the router and access the CLI, follow these steps: Step 1 Connect the RJ-45 end of a DB-9-to-RJ-45 serial cable to the RJ-45 Console port on the router....