M40e System Description

The M40e Multiservice Edge Router is a complete routing system that provides SONET/SDH, ATM, Ethernet, and channelized interfaces for large networks and network applications, such as those supported by Internet service providers (ISPs).

The router architecture cleanly separates control operations from packet forwarding operations, which helps to eliminate processing and traffic bottlenecks. Control operations in the router are performed by the Routing Engine, which runs Junos OS to handle routing protocols, traffic engineering, policy, policing, monitoring, and configuration management.

Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), a definitive part of the router design, enable the router to forward data at the high speeds demanded by current network media. Forwarding operations in the router are performed by the Packet Forwarding Engine, which consists of hardware, including ASICs, designed by Juniper Networks. The Packet Forwarding Engine can forward up to 40 million packets per second (Mpps) for all packet sizes. The router’s maximum aggregate throughput is 3.2 gigabits per second (Gbps) full duplex per FPC. Inserting a combination of PICs with an aggregate higher than the maximum throughput is supported, but constitutes oversubscription of the FPC.

The router accommodates up to eight Flexible PIC Concentrators (FPCs), which can each be configured with a variety of network media types, altogether providing up to 32 OC12/STM4, 32 Gigabit Ethernet, or eight OC48/STM16 ports per system. The router height of 35 in. (89 cm) enables stacked installation of two M40e systems in a single floor-to-ceiling rack, for increased port density per unit of floor space.