Multilink and Link Services PICs Overview
Each Multilink Services or Link Services PIC can support a number of bundles. A bundle can contain up to eight individual links.
For Multilink Services PICs, the links can be T1, E1, or DS0 physical interfaces, and each link is associated with a logical unit number that you configure. For Link Services PICs, the links can be E1, T1, channelized DS3-to-DS1, channelized DS3-to-DS0, channelized E1, channelized STM1 interfaces, or channelized IQ interfaces. For MLFR FRF.16 bundles, each link is associated with a channel number that you configure.
You must configure a link before it can join a bundle. Each bundle should consist solely of one type of link; the mixing of physical interfaces of differing speeds within a bundle is not supported.
 | Note: On both Juniper Networks J Series Services Routers and M Series Multiservice Edge Routers, only one DS3 link is allowed in an MLFR bundle. MLPPP bundles can include two DS3 links. |
Three versions of Multilink Services and three versions of Link Services PICs are available, as shown in Table 1. The PIC hardware is identical, except for different faceplates that enable you to identify which version you are installing. The software limits the unit numbers and maximum number of physical interfaces you assign to the PIC.
Table 1: Multilink and Link Services PIC Capacities
PIC Capacity | Unit Numbers | Maximum Number of T1/DS0 Interfaces | Maximum Number of E1 Interfaces |
|---|---|---|---|
4-bundle PIC | 0 through 3 | 32 links | 32 links |
32-bundle PIC | 0 through 31 | 256 links | 219 links |
128-bundle PIC | 0 through 127 | 292 links | 219 links |
A single PIC can support an aggregate bandwidth of 450 megabits per second (Mbps).
You can configure a larger number of links, but the Multilink Services and Link Services PICs can reliably process only 450 Mbps of traffic. A higher rate of traffic might degrade performance.
| Note: In Junos OS releases 9.0 and above you are not allowed to configure a unit number greater than the maximum unit number available on your link services PIC. Attempting to do so will cause an error message. |
For configuration information, see the following sections:
- Configuring the Number of Bundles on Link Services PICs
- Configuring the Links in a Multilink or Link Services Bundle
