MX480 Interface Modules—FPCs and PICs

A Flexible PIC Concentrator (FPC) occupies two DPC slots on an MX Series router. The router has six dedicated DPC slots that are numbered 0 through 5, bottom to top. Up to three FPCs can be installed horizontally on the front of the router (see Figure 1). The interface corresponds to the lowest numbered DPC slot for which the FPC is installed.

Figure 1: FPC Installed in the MX480 Router Chassis

Figure 2 shows the typical FPCs supported on the MX480 router.

Figure 2: Typical FPCs Supported on the MX480 Router

If a slot is not occupied by a DPC, an FPC, or an SCB, a blank panel must be installed to shield the empty slot and to allow cooling air to circulate properly through the router.

Each FPC supports up to two PICs. On an FPC2, one 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. On an FPC3, two Packet Forwarding Engines receive incoming packets from the PICs installed on the FPC and forwards them through the switch planes to the appropriate destination port. The FPCs interface with the power supplies and SCBs.

FPCs are hot-removable and hot-insertable, as described in MX480 Component Redundancy. When you install an FPC into a functioning router, the Routing Engine downloads the FPC software, the FPC runs its diagnostics, and the PICs, housed on the FPC, are enabled. Forwarding continues uninterrupted during this process. When you remove or install an FPC, packet forwarding between other DPCs or FPCs is not affected.

Two LEDs, located on the craft interface above the FPC, that display the status of the FPC and are labeled OK and FAIL. For more information about the FPC LEDs located on the craft interface, see MX480 Component LEDs on the Craft Interface.

An FPC occupies two slots when installed in an MX240, MX480, or MX960 router. The maximum number of supported FPCs varies per router:

• MX960 router—6 FPCs

• MX480 router—3 FPCs

• MX240 router—1 FPC

Table 1 lists FPCs supported by MX240, MX480, and MX960 routers.

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. Each PIC is equipped with an ASIC that performs control functions specific to the media type of that PIC.

PICs are hot-removable and hot-insertable. Up to two PICs can be installed in the slots in each FPC. Up to three FPCs can be installed in an MX480 router. PICs used in a Type 2 FPC have captive screws at their upper and lower corners. PICs used in a Type 3 FPC have an upper ejector handle and a lower captive screw.

Each port on a PIC corresponds to a unique interface name in the CLI.

In the syntax of an interface name, a hyphen (-) separates the media type from the FPC number (represented as an FPC in the CLI). The FPC slot number corresponds to the first number in the interface. The second number in the interface corresponds to the PIC number. The last number in the interface matches the port number on the PIC. Slashes (/) separate the FPC number from the PIC number and port number:

type-fpc/pic/port

• type—Media type, which identifies the network device. For example:

  • ge—Gigabit Ethernet interface

  • so—SONET/SDH interface

  • xe—10-Gigabit Ethernet interface

  For a complete list of media types, see Interface Naming Overview.

• fpc—Lowest slot number in which the FPC is installed. On the MX480 router, FPCs occupy two line card slots and are represented in the CLI as FPC 0 through FPC 4.

• pic—PIC number, 0 or 1 depending on the FPC slot.

  For more information on specific PICs, see PICs Supported by MX240, MX480, and MX960 Routers in the MX Series Interface Module Reference.

• port—Port number.

The MX480 supports up to three FPCs that install horizontally and are numbered from bottom to top.

Figure 3 shows a Channelized OC12/STM4 Enhanced IQ (IQE) PIC with SFP installed in PIC slot 0 of an FPC installed in slot 3 and slot 4.

Figure 3: MX480 PIC Interface Port Mapping

The show chassis hardware command output displays a Channelized OC12/STM4 Enhanced IQ (IQE) PIC (4x CHOC12 IQE SONET) installed in MX FPC Type 2.

The show interfaces terse command output displays the channelized SONET OC12 interfaces (coc12), that correspond to the four ports located on the PIC.

Each PIC has LEDs located on the faceplate. For more information about LEDs on the PIC faceplate, see the “LEDs” section for each PIC in the MX Series Interface Module Reference.

Table 2 lists the PICs supported by MX240, MX480, and MX960 routers.