Meridian America Link/Customer Controlled Routing manual Peripheral device cabling interface, 273

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Chapter 11: Peripheral device cabling interface

You should use this chapter in conjunction with Chapter 5, ÒHardware installation overview,Ó which links hardware installation procedures in easily understood tables (Tables 11 and 12).

This chapter provides information pertaining to special installing and configuration requirements.

DCE and DTE connections

The RS-232C protocol is widely used as a physical interface between external devices. An RS-232 link will safely carry data signals up to 15 m (50 ft.) with no special equipment installedÑif it is set up correctly for the device at each end. Each device is designated as either Data Terminal Equipment (DTE; usually a terminal or host computer) or Data Communications Equipment (DCE; often a modem). Normally, to establish communications between two devices, one device must be DCE and the other device must be DTE, with an RS-232 cable between them.

The RS-232 cable has as many as 25 pins, each carrying a specific type of data signal. A straight RS-232 link connects a DTE device to a DCE device. However, some connections link devices of the same typeÑfor example, a printer could be attached to a terminal (DTE-to-DTE). There are two approaches to handling such non-standard connections. They include

¥reconfiguring the device at one end of the link Many devices can be configured to resemble a DTE or DCE device, usually by setting switches or jumpers on the equipment or by changing the software configuration. A straight cable can then be used, as shown in Figure 79.

Meridian Link Release 5C/CCR Release 3C Installation and Upgrade Guide