PTX5000 Interface Modules

FPC Slots

Up to eight FPCs install vertically in the front of the PTX5000. The FPC slots are numbered FPC0 through FPC7, left to right. If a slot is not occupied by an FPC, an FPC blank panel must be installed to shield the empty slot and to allow cooling air to circulate properly through the PTX5000.

FPC Function

FPCs house the PICs that connect the PTX5000 to network media. The main function of an FPC is to connect the PICs installed in it to the other chassis components. The Packet Forwarding Engine receives incoming packets from the PICs installed on the FPC and forwards them through the switch planes to the appropriate destination port.

When you install an FPC into a functioning PTX5000, the Routing Engine downloads the FPC software, the FPC runs its diagnostics, and the PICs housed on the FPC are enabled. Forwarding on other FPCs continues uninterrupted during this process.

FPC Components

Each FPC consists of the following components:

• FPC card carrier

• Packet Forwarding Engines, consisting of Lookup ASICs and the Queuing and Memory Interface ASICs

• Processor Mezzanine Board (PMB), which includes a 1.2-GHz CPU, 4 GB of SDRAM, and two Fast Ethernet interfaces

• Two LEDs on the FPC that display the status of the FPC

• FPC online/offline button

Identifying the FPCs

Check the label on the faceplate to identify the FPC, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Identifying the FPCs

FPC Terminology

Regardless of whether you are holding an FPC vertically or horizontally, this document uses the same terms for all four edges of the FPC (see Figure 2):

• Faceplate—Edge of the FPC that has slots into which you insert the PICs

• Connector edge—Edge opposite the faceplate; this edge has the connectors that attach to the midplane

• Top edge—Edge at the top of the FPC when it is vertical

• Bottom edge—Edge at the bottom of the FPC when it is vertical

Figure 2: FPC Edges

1 — Faceplate	3 — Connector edge
2 — Top edge	4 — Bottom edge

PTX5000 PIC Slots

Each FPC has two PIC slots. Blank PICs resemble other PICs but do not provide any physical connection or activity. When a PIC 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. PICs are hot-removable and hot-insertable.

PTX5000 PIC Function

PICs provide the physical connection to various network media types, receiving incoming packets from the network and transmitting outgoing packets to the network. During this process, each PIC performs framing and line-speed signaling for its media type. Before transmitting outgoing data packets, the PICs encapsulate the packets received from the FPCs.

PICs Supported on the PTX5000

See PICs Supported on the PTX Series for a complete list of PICs supported on the PTX5000.

PTX5000 PIC Components

Figure 3 shows an example of a PIC supported on the PTX5000. PICs have an upper ejector handle and a lower ejector handle.

Figure 3: PIC Faceplate

PTX3000 PIC/FPC Compatibility

Table 4 describes PIC/FPC compatibility for the PTX3000.

PTX5000 PIC/FPC Compatibility

Table 5 describes PIC/FPC compatibility for the PTX5000.