Overview of a Routing Matrix with a TX Matrix Plus Router

Components of a Routing Matrix with a TX Matrix Plus Router

• TX Matrix Plus router—A routing matrix can contain only one Juniper Networks TX Matrix Plus router. A TX Matrix Plus router is often referred to as the switch-fabric chassis (SFC). In the Junos OS command-line interface (CLI), sfc0 is used to refer to the TX Matrix Plus router. For information about installing and connecting to a TX Matrix Plus router, see the TX Matrix Plus Router Hardware Guide .
• T1600 routers—A routing matrix can contain from one to four T1600 routers, numbered from 0 through 3. The T1600 router number is set by the hardware. A T1600 router in a routing matrix is often referred to as a line-card chassis (LCC). In the Junos OS CLI, lcc0 through lcc3 are used to refer to a T1600 router in a routing matrix. For information about connecting to a T1600 router in a routing matrix, see the TX Matrix Plus Router Hardware Guide .

Architecture of a Routing Matrix with a TX Matrix Plus Router

In a routing matrix, the TX Matrix Plus router controls all the connected T1600 routers, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Architecture of a Routing Matrix with a TX Matrix Plus Router

A key element of the routing matrix design is the ability to migrate existing standalone T1600 routers and connect them with a TX Matrix Plus router through fiber-optic cables and Switch Interface Boards (SIBs).

The TX Matrix Plus router connection between the T1600 routers uses a scalable, three-stage switch fabric. This system architecture provides terabit bandwidth expansion capacity and eliminates the use of subscriber line cards to connect devices within points of presence (POPs). As a result, the primary application for the routing matrix is to collapse aggregation and core layers in large POPs and central offices.

Similarly, you can limit which portions of the routing matrix are modified during configuration or maintenance procedures (for example, performing software upgrades or halting Routing Engines).

Managing the Routing Matrix as a Single Router

Although a routing matrix can contain up to five separate physical components, from the perspective of the user interface, the routing matrix appears as a single router for most operations and uses the existing Junos OS CLI.

To manage the multichassis system, some enhancements have been made to the CLI to enable you to select the amount of output you want to display when you issue operational commands. For example, you can specify the entire routing matrix, the TX Matrix Plus router, a specific T1600 router and its Flexible PIC Concentrators (FPCs), or a combination thereof.

When you issue configuration and operational commands on a TX Matrix Plus router, your view of the routing matrix shows a single routing device with a single range of FPC numbers (from 0 through 31 rather than from 0 through 7 for each FPC). As a result, you will need to adjust certain configuration statements to accommodate the global numbering of FPCs installed on the routing matrix, as described in Using Global FPC Numbering for Interfaces in a Routing Matrix with a TX Matrix Plus Router.