Lab 5.

Configuring Back-to-
Back Serial Connections

Lab Objective:
The objective of this lab exercise is to configure back-to-back Serial
interfaces between two Cisco routers. By default, router Serial
interfaces receive their clocking information from an external device
such as a CSU/DSU.

Lab Purpose:
Back-to-back Serial interface configuration is a fundamental skill.
Because routers typically receive clocking from an external device
such as a CSU/DSU, it is imperative to understand how to bring up a
back-to-back Serial connection between two routers to set up your
home lab, for example. As a Cisco engineer, as well as in the Cisco
CCNA exam, you will be expected to know how to configure back-to-
back Serial connections.

Lab Topology:
Please use the following topology to complete this lab exercise:

Task 1:
Configure hostnames on R1 and R2 as illustrated in the topology.

Task 2:
Enable Serial interfaces on R1 and R2. The Serial0/0 interface on
R2 is identified as the DCE in the topology. Use the appropriate show
command to verify that this interface is indeed the DCE.

Task 3:
Configure the DCE interface on R2 to provide clocking to R1. The
clock speed should be 256 Kbps. Remember that 1 Kbps = 1000
bps. Verify that R1 receives clocking information from R2.

Task 4:
Configure IP addressing on R1 and R2 Serial0/0 interfaces as
illustrated in the topology.

Task 5:
Verify your interface status and ping between R1 and R2 to validate
connectivity.
 Lab 5. Configuration and
Verification

Task 1:
For reference information on configuring hostnames, please refer to
earlier labs.

Task 2:
R1(config)#interface serial0/0
R1(config-if)#no shut
*Mar 1 00:36:47.282: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Serial0/0, changed state
to down
R1(config-if)#end
R1#

R2(config)#interface serial0/0
R2(config-if)#no shut
*Mar 1 00:36:47.282: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Serial0/0, changed state
to down
R2(config-if)#end
R2#show controllers serial 0/0
Interface Serial0/0
Hardware is PowerQUICC MPC860
DCE V.35, no clock

NOTE: The show controllers command will tell you whether the
interface is the DCE side (which provides the clocking) or the DTE
side (which receives the clocking) on a particular router interface.
Note that GNS3 doesn’t use actual cables so there is no need to
configure clocking.

Task 3:
R2#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CTRL/Z.
R2(config)#interface serial0/0
R2(config-if)#clock rate 256000
R2(config-if)#end
R2#show controllers serial0/0
Interface Serial0/0
Hardware is PowerQUICC MPC860
DCE V.35, clock rate 256000

R1#show controllers serial0/2

Interface Serial0/0
Hardware is PowerQUICC MPC860
DTE V.35 TX and RX clocks detected.

Task 4:
For reference information on configuring IP addressing, please refer
to earlier labs.

Task 5:
R1#show ip interface brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
Serial0/0 172.30.100.1 YES manual up up

R1#ping 172.30.100.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.30.100.2, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 8/8/12 ms

R2#show ip interface brief

Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
Serial0/0 172.30.100.2 YES manual up up

R2#ping 172.30.100.1

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 172.30.100.1, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 8/8/12 ms