46 CHAPTER 4: CONNECTORS AND CABLES
DTEs include mainframes and automatic teller machines. DCEs include 
modems and CSU/DSUs. 
A DCE must always connect to a DTE, and vice versa. If you need to 
connect a DTE to a DTE, or a DCE to a DCE, you can use a crossover cable 
between the two devices.
For example, a SuperStack II bridge/router is a DTE. To connect the 
bridge/router to another DTE, such as a mainframe, use a crossover 
Flex-WAN DCE cable. The DCE cable has a DCE connector on the end 
that connects to the mainframe (see Figure 18).
Figure 18   Connecting the Bridge/Router to a DTE Using a DCE Cable
To connect the bridge/router to a DCE, such as a modem, use a 
straight-through Flex-WAN DTE cable. The DTE cable has a DTE connector 
on the end that connects to the modem (see Figure 19).
Figure 19   Connecting the Bridge/Router to a DCE Using a DTE Cable
DTE
DTE
DCE
Connector
Flex-WAN DCE 
crossover cable
SuperStack II
(acting DCE, provides
necessary clocking signals)
Mainframe
DTE
DCE
DTE
connector
Flex-WAN DTE 
straight-through cable
SuperStack II
Modem
HWBook  Page 46  Friday, June 19, 1998  3:42 PM