Line Cards Supported on MX Series Routers
Juniper Networks MX Series Ethernet Services Routers process incoming and outgoing packets on several different types of line cards, including Dense Port Concentrators (DPCs), Flexible Port Concentrators (FPCs) with associated Physical Interface Cards (PICs), Trio Modular Port Concentrators (MPCs) with associated Modular Interface Cards (MICs). FPCs are populated with PICs for various interface types. DPCs and MPCs combine the functions of FPCs and the PICs, and with associated physical interfaces support a variety of interface types. The configuration syntax for each type of line card is the same: type-fpc/pic/port.
FPCs and PICs
An FPC occupies two slots when installed in an MX Series router. The maximum number of supported FPCs varies per router:
- MX960 router—6 FPCs
- MX480 router—3 FPCs
- MX240 router—1 FPC
PICs provide the physical connection to various network media types. The PICs are inserted into a slot in a router. You can install PICs of different media types on the same router as long as the router supports those PICs.
MX Series Ethernet Services Routers support 2 PICs per Flexible PIC Concentrator (FPC). The maximum number of supported PICs varies per router:
- MX960 router—12 PICs
- MX480 router—6 PICs
- MX240 router—2 PICs
For more information, see the MX Series 3D Universal Edge Routers Line Card Guide.
DPCs
A DPC provides multiple physical interfaces and Packet Forwarding Engines on a single board that installs into a slot within the MX Series Ethernet Services Routers. The maximum number of supported DPCs varies per router:
- MX960 router—12 DPC slots
- MX480 router—7 DPC slots
- MX240 router—4 DPC slots
For more information, see the MX Series 3D Universal Edge Routers Line Card Guide.
 | Note: In the Junos OS CLI, you use the FPC syntax to configure or display information about DPCs, and you use the PIC syntax to configure or display information about Packet Forwarding Engines on the DPCs. |
In addition to Layer 3 routing capabilities, the DPCs also have many Layer 2 functions that allow MX Series routers to be used for many virtual LAN (VLAN) and other Layer 2 network applications.
Modular Port Concentrator (MPC) and Modular Interface Card (MIC) Interfaces
A Modular Port Concentrator supports two Modular Interface Card (MIC) interfaces. The maximum number of supported MPCs varies per router:
- MX960 router—12 MPC slots
- MX480 router—6 MPC slots
- MX240 router—3 MPC slots
| Note: The MX80 router is a single-board router with a built-in Routing Engine and one Packet Forwarding Engine (PFE), which can have up to four Modular Interface Cards (MICs) directly attached to it. |
For more information, see the MX Series 3D Universal Edge Routers Line Card Guide.
