One side of the link (DCE), has to transmit the clock signal, which controls the data rate, and the other side (DTE) receives the clock signal.
R1 is DCE here:
interface Serial0/0/0
ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.252
clock rate 2000000
R2 is DTE here:
interface Serial0/0/0
ip address 10.0.0.2 255.255.255.252
The difference between the two cables in packet tracer is just which side you click first:
- With the DCE cable, (red zigzag with clock) the side you click first will be the DCE, the second will be DTE
- With the DTE cable (red zigzag no clock) the side you click first will be DTE, the second will be DCE
Whichever way you do it, you'll see one side of the cable shows the clock symbol: this is the DCE.
Answer from jonathanjo on Stack ExchangeCisco
cisco.com › support › product support › routers › cisco 800 series routers › troubleshooting technotes
Serial Cable Connection Guide - Cisco
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. 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.
Cisco Community
community.cisco.com › t5 › network-management › dce-vs-dte-and-serial-connections › td-p › 4184919
DCE vs DTE and serial connections - Cisco Community
November 17, 2020 - For home lab with back to back serial cable (special cable made for back-to back connection), you should provide clocking with clock rate command on one of 2 routers (per link). That will be your DCE end while other end of a link is DTE. It does not matter which side is DCE.
cisco - What's the difference between Serial DCE and Serial DTE link? - Network Engineering Stack Exchange
@jonathanjo I'm not quite sure about Cisco's parlance - a console port on a switch is in the DCE role and connects to a DTE. Cisco specifies a "rolled cable" (=crossover aka null-modem) which allows for the required DTE-pinout to DTE-pinout connection - there's no general standard for 8P8C serial ... More on networkengineering.stackexchange.com
Cant use DCE or DTE cable on Cisco 1941 router (packet tracer)
Power down the router. Click & drag the HWIC-2T module to one or both of the empty slots, then power the router back on. You can now attach a DCE or DTE cable to one of the serial interfaces. More on reddit.com
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October 30, 2020Why do you need to set a clock rate?
Serial Cables can operate a variable clock rates, or frequencies. This is the duration a voltage is applied to the wire to transmit a single bit. Unlike Ethernet, who's frequencies are built into the specification itself (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, etc), Serial Links's frequency can be set differently on each link. But crucial to transmitting data is for both sides of the cable to use the same Frequency. So a Serial Link elects one side of the cable to be the Clock Master (if you will), and the other side of the cable simply agrees to the frequency set by the Clock Master. A Serial Cable has a DCE and a DTE side. The DCE side is elected as the Clock Master, so the device which has the DCE side of the cable connected to it must be the one which you enter the clock rate command. To determine what side of the cable is connected, you can use the command show controllers s0/0/0. Four or five lines from the top you'll see it labeled as DTE or DCE. More on reddit.com
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May 14, 2021DCE vs DTE
DTE = Data Terminal Equipment DCE = Data Communications Equipment Short answer: DTE is the customer's perimeter router, DCE is the service provider's equipment that the WAN side of the customer router connects to. Now for a little more detail: DTE - The DTE device is usually a router but could be a host or server. - This is the device that connects the subscriber LANs to the WAN communication device (i.e., DCE). - Hosts on the inside of the customer network send their traffic to the DTE device (typically the LAN perimeter router). - The DTE connects to the service provider network (WAN) through the DCE. DCE - Also called data circuit-terminating equipment, this is the device used to communicate with the provider. - The DCE primarily provides an interface to connect subscribers to a communication link on the WAN cloud. - In residential Internet applications, the DCE would be the DSL modem or Cable modem - In commercial WAN applications, the DCE would be something like a CSU/DSU (for old-school WAN connections), or something like an interface on the telco router at the demarc for a more modern WAN circuit. More on reddit.com
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January 27, 2021Videos
03:18
How to Connect Routers Using Serial Cable (Serial DCE & DTE) | ...
M2-Lab5. Static routing with DTE/DCE serial ports in Cisco ...
00:52
🔌 Configura Serial DCE y DTE en Routers Cisco | Packet Tracer ...
03:25
Cables Seriales Packet Tracer - YouTube
ITN Lab 3: Physical Connection to Cisco Router or Switch
Serial Interface Connection Between Two Routers - Difference ...
Top answer 1 of 3
10
One side of the link (DCE), has to transmit the clock signal, which controls the data rate, and the other side (DTE) receives the clock signal.
R1 is DCE here:
interface Serial0/0/0
ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.252
clock rate 2000000
R2 is DTE here:
interface Serial0/0/0
ip address 10.0.0.2 255.255.255.252
The difference between the two cables in packet tracer is just which side you click first:
- With the DCE cable, (red zigzag with clock) the side you click first will be the DCE, the second will be DTE
- With the DTE cable (red zigzag no clock) the side you click first will be DTE, the second will be DCE
Whichever way you do it, you'll see one side of the cable shows the clock symbol: this is the DCE.
2 of 3
6
DCE stands for data circuit-terminating, data communications, or data carrier equipment - this is a modem or more generally, a line adapter.
DTE stands for data terminal equipment which generally is a terminal or a computer.
Basically, these two are the different ends of a serial line.
Amazon
amazon.com › EDIMS-Length-Router-CAB-SS-2626X-Serial › dp › B06VXVCM32
Amazon.com: EDIMS 3FT Length Router Cable CAB-SS-2626X DTE/DCE Smart Serial Cable for Cisco Router : Electronics
Amazon.com: EDIMS 3FT Length Router Cable CAB-SS-2626X DTE/DCE Smart Serial Cable for Cisco Router : Electronics
Cisco
itprice.com › cisco-gpl › serial dce cable
SERIAL DCE CABLE Price - Cisco Global Price List
Check SERIAL DCE CABLE price from the latest Cisco price list 2022.
CablesAndKits
cablesandkits.com › mc › cab-ss-v35 › fam-553 › fp-498
CAB-SS-V35FC | Cisco Cable | Smart Serial to V.35 | DCE | 10 ft
Cisco V.35 DCE Female Smart Serial Cable, CAB-SS-V35FC, 10ft
.diagramz { width: 100%; text-align: center; } .diagramz img { width: 90%; } .cols2 { -moz-column-count: 2; -moz-column-gap: 20px; -webkit-column-count: 2; -webkit-column-gap: 20px; column-count: 2; column-gap: 20px; } .cols3 { -moz-column-count: 3; -moz-column-gap: 20px; -webkit-column-count: 3; -webkit-column-gap: 20px; column-count: 3; column-gap: 20px; } .startheader { font-family: 'Roboto Condensed', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; width: 100%; font-weight: bold; color: #3B3B3B; font-size: 16px; } .miniheader { font-family: 'Roboto Condensed', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; width: 100%; font
Price $29.78
Reddit
reddit.com › r/ccna › cant use dce or dte cable on cisco 1941 router (packet tracer)
r/ccna on Reddit: Cant use DCE or DTE cable on Cisco 1941 router (packet tracer)
October 30, 2020 -
I have a lab for homework where i have to use a serial cable, DCE or DTE im not sure. The teacher went over it and it looked like he added a module to the back right side and then it would work.
im tring that on both the left and right side and it still dosent work. I watched youtube videos where the guy did the same thing and it worked for him no problem. i tried 2 different versions of pacet tracer too.
Top answer 1 of 2
1
Power down the router. Click & drag the HWIC-2T module to one or both of the empty slots, then power the router back on. You can now attach a DCE or DTE cable to one of the serial interfaces.
2 of 2
1
The serial interface will not come up like an ethernet interface will. For the serial interfaces, you must establish a connection between two points in order for the interface to become operational. Connect the serial cable between two routers, then enable both interfaces, the link will come up. You can then assign IP addresses if desired.
Cisco
cisco.com › c › en › us › support › docs › routers › 7200-series-routers › 12219-17.pdf pdf
Serial Cable Connection Guide Contents Introduction Prerequisites Requirements
The selection of the proper serial cable involves answering three questions: Is the router being connected to a data terminal equipment (DTE) or data communications ... Devices that communicate over a serial interface are divided into two classes: DTE and DCE.
ComputerNetworkingNotes
computernetworkingnotes.com › ccna-study-guide › cabling-cisco-devices-guide.html
Cabling Cisco Devices Guide
November 26, 2025 - To configure a serial interface as the DCE device, use the "clock rate" and "bandwidth" commands from the interface mode. The following image shows an example of these commands. Usually, a serial cable has a clear marking on both ends.
Institut Sa Palomera
sapalomera.cat › moodlecf › RS › 4 › course › module3 › 3.1.1.9 › 3.1.1.9.html
3.1.1.9 Cables seriales
El cable para la conexión de DTE a DCE es un cable serial de transición blindado. El extremo del router del cable serial de transición blindado puede ser un conector DB-60, que se conecta al puerto DB-60 en una tarjeta de interfaz WAN serial, como se muestra en la figura 2.
Cablesdirect
cablesdirect.com › store › c › 220-Cisco-Router-Cables.aspx
Cisco Router Cables
10ft SmartSerial to DCE X.21 Serial Cisco Router Cable · Retail: $34.00 Price: $12.50 · Availability: In Stock View details · 10ft SmartSerial to DTE X.21 Serial Cisco Router Cable · Retail: $34.00 Price: $12.50 · Availability: In Stock View details · 6ft DB60 to DTE V.35 Serial Cisco Router Cable ·
Cisco
cisco.com › support › product support › cisco interfaces and modules › cisco network modules › install and upgrade guides
Serial Network Modules - Cisco
For example, the network end of the EIA/TIA-232 serial cable is a DB-25 connector, the most widely used EIA/TIA-232 connector. All serial interface types except EIA/TIA-530 and EIA/TIA-530A are available in DTE or DCE format: DTE with a plug connector at the network end, and DCE with a receptacle at the network end.
Ingrammicro
ch.ingrammicro.eu › content › pdf › 6771337.pdf pdf
Selecting a Serial Cable A-1 A P P E N D I X A Selecting a Serial Cable
Figure A-1 shows a typical serial connection for the Cisco 805 router. In this example, the · router, which is a DTE device, is connected to a CSU/DSU or modem, which are DCE ... CSU/DSU or modem is a DTE V.35 male cable.
Field Components
fieldcomponents.com › home › 10ft cisco(r) compatible dce 26-pin db25f smart serial cable
10ft Cisco(R) Compatible DCE 26-pin DB25F Smart Serial Cable
10ft Cisco(R) Compatible DCE 26-pin ... Designed for the WIC-2T and WIC-A/S WAN interface cards, and features Cisco's compact, high-density Smart Serial connector. This cable has a male 26-pin connector on the Cisco Smart Serial end and a female DB25 connector on the network end...
Accio
accio.com › plp › cisco-packet-tracer-serial-dce-cable-icon
Cisco Packet Tracer Serial DCE Cable Icon Guide
The market offers a clear segmentation between direct Cisco-compatible serial cables and versatile network testing tools. Products excel in different areas, from strict compliance to procurement flexibility and advanced diagnostics. The best choice depends on the primary use case: emulating Packet Tracer labs or maintaining broader network infrastructure. Core Compliance Leaders For authentic Packet Tracer emulation, Serial DTE DCE Back to Back Cable Cisc0 3FT Crossover (Dongguan Vision Electronical Technology Co., Ltd.) is the top pick.
Cisco Learning Network
learningnetwork.cisco.com › s › question › 0D53i00000KsoncCAB › dte-and-dce-connector
Cisco Learning Network
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NetworkLessons
notes.networklessons.com › home › wide area network (wan) › how to configure hdlc on cisco ios router
How to configure HDLC on Cisco IOS Router
November 20, 2025 - HDLC is a point-to-point protocol, ... on Cisco routers. HDLC is a standard, but running HDLC between routers from different vendors will not work. Keep this in mind. Every vendor has a proprietary field in their HDLC implementation, which is what makes it incompatible between vendors. Let me show you how to configure it: I’m using two routers connected with a serial link. First, we will configure the clock rate on the router that has the DCE side of the cable...