16-Port QSFP+ Front Cards in a QFX3008-I Interconnect Device

The 16-port QSFP+ front cards installed in the QFX3008-I Interconnect device provide the first and last stage of switch fabric functionality in a QFX3000 QFabric system. See Figure 1.

A QFX3008-I Interconnect device can have up to eight front cards. All eight front cards are fully connected to all eight rear cards. The impact of a front card failure on the performance of an QFX3000 QFabric system varies based on how your QFX3500 Node devices are connected to the QFX3008-I Interconnect device and the traffic mix flowing through them. See Understanding Redundancy of QFX3008-I Interconnect Device Components and Functionality.

Figure 1: 16-Port QSFP+ Front Card

The 16-port QSFP+ front cards are installed in the front of the chassis in the slots labeled 0 through 7. See Slot Numbering for a QFX3008-I Interconnect Device.

The 16-port QSFP+ front cards are hot-insertable and hot-removable field-replaceable units (FRUs). However, you must take the front cards offline before removing them. See Taking a 16-Port QSFP+ Front Card Offline in a QFX3008-I Interconnect Device.

Each 16-port QSFP+ front card has these components:

• LEDs—Indicate port and system status. See 16-Port QSFP+ Front Card LEDs on a QFX3008-I Interconnect Device.
• 16 40-Gbps QSFP+ ports—Connect to the QFX3500 Node devices in your QFX3000 QFabric system for data path connectivity.
• Ejector levers—Used for installing and removing the front card.