Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What additional configuration is required on the DCE side of a serial connection?

1. Bandwidth setting

2. Clock rate

3. IP address assignment

4. Encapsulation type

The correct answer is: Clock rate

In a serial connection, the Data Communication Equipment (DCE) device is responsible for providing the clock signal that synchronizes the transmission of data over the link. As such, one essential configuration that must be applied specifically to the DCE side is the clock rate. This setting establishes the speed at which data is sent over the serial link, which is crucial for ensuring correct communication between the connected devices—typically one DCE device and one Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) device. Setting the clock rate on the DCE side ensures that both ends of the connection operate at the same transmission speed. If the clock rate is not configured on the DCE side, the DTE device would be unable to effectively send or receive data, leading to connectivity issues. Hence, the configuration of the clock rate is necessary and specific to the DCE, making it the correct answer in this context.