Cisco WAN Interface Cards

Document ID: 7259

Contents

Introduction
Prerequisites
      Requirements
      Components Used
      Conventions
Product Number
Features
Cables
Platform Support
Known Problems
Configuration
Related Information

Introduction

The dual-serial port WAN Interface Card (WIC-2A/S) provides higher levels of serial port density for a single WIC and is supported on the Cisco 1700, 2600, and 3600 series. The low serial speed WIC-2A/S supports up to 128 Kbps synchronous or 115.2 Kbps asynchronous serial links. Each port on a WIC is a different physical interface and can support different protocols such as Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) or Frame Relay and Data Terminal Equipment/Data Communications Equipment (DTE/DCE). This WIC supports mixed asynchronous and synchronous operation on a single card as well.

These dual-serial port WICs feature Cisco's new, compact, Smart Serial connectors to support a wide variety of electrical interfaces when used with the appropriate transition cable. This includes: V.35, RS-232, RS-449, RS-530, RS-530A in male and female versions for both DTE and DCE devices. This feature provides easy configuration and reconfiguration as network requirements change, without the need of purchasing a different serial interface card.

Two cables are required to support the two ports on the WIC.

Prerequisites

Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

The information in this document is based on the WIC-2A/S.

The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Conventions

Refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.

Product Number

WIC-2A/S—Two-Port Asynchronous/Synchronous WIC

Features

The WIC-2A/S provides two serial ports using the Smart Serial connector.

• Aysnchronous support with a maximum speed of 115.2 Kbps and a minimum of 600 bps. If you need to run at speeds lower than 600 bps, use the AUX port instead.

• Synchronous support with a maximum speed of 128 Kbps.

Cables

Platform Support

Note: The Cisco 1600 series is not capable of supporting the WIC-2A/S due to the lack of Serial Communications Controllers.

The NM-1E2W, NM-1E1R2W, and NM-2E2W network modules do not have enough performance to support the WIC-2A/S.

Known Problems

The WIC-2A/S can be damaged by excessive electrostatic discharge. You can minimize this electrostatic discharge in these ways:

• Use shielded cable end-to-end.

• Use a data surge protector that protects against surges over +/- 18v.

• Use an optical isolator (best protection).

Configuration

The default setting for this module is synchronous. Issue the physical-layer async command in order to configure the module for asynchronous communication. Here is a section of an asynchronous configuration:

maui-soho-01(config)#interface Serial 2/0
maui-soho-01(config-if)#physical-layer async

!--- Places the interface in asynchronous mode. 
!--- Continue to configure this serial interface just as you 
!--- would configure an Async Interface.

maui-soho-01(config-if)#ip add 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.0
maui-soho-01(config-if)#async mode interactive
maui-soho-01(config-if)#async default routing
maui-soho-01(config-if)#dialer in-band
maui-soho-01(config-if)#dialer map ip 10.0.0.2 name maui-nas-01 broadcast 5551111

!--- The above commands are part of a broader Dial-on-Demand Routing (DDR)
!--- configuration.

Refer to Configuring Dialout using a Modem on the AUX Port in order to connect a modem to this interface. Even though the document refers to the AUX port, the configuration is very similar.

Issue the physical-layer sync command or the no physical-layer async command in order to revert to the default sync mode. Refer to Configuring Serial Interfaces for more information on how to configure the interface for normal serial operation.

Related Information

• Multilink PPP Across Two Serial Physical-layer Async Interfaces
• Online Insertion and Removal of Analog and Digital Modem Network Modules Installed in the Cisco 3660 Router
• Dial Technology Support Pages
• Technical Support & Documentation - Cisco Systems