JUNOS Enterprise Switching

Chapter 2. EX Platform Overview

Juniper Networks’ long-awaited entry into the Ethernet switching market began on March 31, 2008, with the release of the EX3200 and EX4200 Ethernet switching platforms. To date, Juniper Networks has been notable for its wide range of high-performance IP routing platforms that share a common JUNOS Software code base. Although Juniper’s hardware and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design prowess should not be underestimated, many consider JUNOS to be the real mojo behind the company’s success. JUNOS software has been field-tested and proven robust in the largest service provider networks on the planet. Add in its unique usability features and the benefits of a single code train and you can begin to understand why JUNOS enjoys such brand loyalty among its users.

This chapter details the hardware design and general capability of the EX platforms, and introduces foundation concepts of JUNOS software and the associated command-line interface (CLI). A detailed discussion of Juniper’s routing platforms and IP routing in general is beyond the scope of this book. Readers interested in these topics can consult product documentation, training materials, or any of the numerous books published on the subject, including this book’s companion volume, JUNOS Enterprise Routing, by Doug Marschke and Harry Reynolds (O’Reilly). For information on general routing in a JUNOS software environment, check out the JNCIA-M, JNCIS-M, JNCIP-M, and JNCIE-M ...