Physical Interface Cards (PICs)
Physical Interface Cards (PICs) are housed on Flexible PIC Concentrators (FPCs) and physically connect the router to network media. For information about FPCs, see Flexible PIC Concentrators (FPCs). The router supports various PICs, including ATM, Channelized OC-12/STM-4, Gigabit Ethernet, and SONET/SDH interfaces. Up to four PICs install in each FPC. The PIC slots are numbered
0(zero) through3, top to bottom.PICs receive incoming packets from the network and transmit outgoing packets to the network, performing framing and line-speed signaling for their media type as required. PICs also encapsulate outgoing packets received from the FPCs before transmitting them. The controller ASIC on each PIC performs additional control functions specific to the PIC media type.
A regular PIC is hot-removable and hot-insertable in the sense that its absence does not disrupt routing functions; however, you must completely remove its host FPC from the chassis before removing the PIC, which affects all PICs on the FPC. For replacement instructions, see Replace a PIC.
Quad-wide PICs, such as the 4-port Gigabit Ethernet and OC-48/STM-16 SONET/SDH PICs, occupy an entire FPC slot and are hot-removable and hot-insertable, as described in Field-Replaceable Units (FRUs). The instructions for replacing a quad-wide PIC are the same as for an FPC. See Replace an FPC or Quad-wide PIC.
PIC Components
Most PICs supported on the M40 router have the following components, but for complete specifications see the M20 and M40 Internet Routers PIC Guide. For information about pinouts for PIC cable connectors, see Cable Connectors and Pinouts.
- One or more cable connector ports—Accept a network media connector.
- LEDs—Indicate PIC and port status. Most PICs have an LED labeled
STATUSon the PIC faceplate. Some PICs have additional LEDs, often one per port. The meaning of the LED states differs for various PICs. For more information, see the M20 and M40 Internet Routers PIC Guide.