This guide provides an overview and description of the Physical Interface Cards (PICs) supported by the Juniper Networks M5 and M10 Internet routers that are end-of-life and can no longer be ordered. The PICs are described alphabetically.

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.

PICs receive incoming packets from the network and transmit outgoing packets to the network. During this process, each PIC performs framing and high-speed signaling for its media type. Before transmitting outgoing data packets, the PICs encapsulate the packets received. Each PIC is equipped with a media-specific ASIC that performs control functions tailored to the PIC's media type.

You can typically install any combination of PICs on a single Enhanced Flexible PIC Concentrator (FPC). Starting with JUNOS Release 6.2, on M5, M10, M20, M40, M40e, and M160 routers, there are some combinations of PICs that cannot be installed together on the same Enhanced FPC. If you are adding a new type of PIC to an existing configuration, see the PIC Combination Notes Summary CS technical bulletin (ID number PSN-2004-12-002) at http://www.juniper.net/alerts.

Blank PICs resemble other PICs, but do not provide any physical connection or activity. When a slot is not occupied by a PIC, you must insert a blank PIC to fill the empty slot and ensure proper cooling of the system.

For complete information about installing PICs, including installation of small form-factor pluggable transceivers (SFPs), refer to the PIC, SFP, and XENPAK Installation Instructions located at http://www.juniper.net/techpubs/.

Table 1 lists the PICs supported by the M5 and M10 Internet routers.