ethernet vs serial

In a lab environment is there a significant reason 1 would prefer to use serial connections like a WIC2T vice just using cat5 with a WIC1 DSU T1?

I know traditionally with serial connections you set encapsulation, but i'm thinking that is a function of WAN protocols, not the physical media but I could be wrong.

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Comments

networker050184

Neither of those would use ethernet. There really isn't much difference for a lab environment between those two though.

SephStorm

Thanks, what do you mean on the first part though? That card has an RJ45 slot.

astorrs

SephStorm wrote: »

Thanks, what do you mean on the first part though? That card has an RJ45 slot.

Different pinout and doesn't talk Ethernet

netsysllc

Ethernet is a standard that uses Cat5 and RJ45 but there are others What is the pinout for RJ45 cables?

grechy

Not really unless the person is talking about clock rates ect. You might just find that the router in the lab was once used with wic2T modules ect.

SephStorm

interesting. So if I buy a device with one of those DSU cards, a standard RJ45 would not be used? Would I be better off just buying the 2T cards for simplicity?

networker050184

A standard RJ45 is used, but it is not ethernet.

SephStorm

Ok, I get that. So it would make more sense to get the serial cards with SS cables.

*sighs*

more money if I do this lab.

SephStorm

the routers come with the dsu cards, but it sounds like you guys are saying the physical pinout for connecting a cat5 cable to one of these cards would be different.

basicly i want to get 3 routers that currently have these cards and connect them with cat5 cables and run WAN protocols over them ala:

NotHackingYou

I used the WIC 1 DSU T1 for my CCNA studies