NFX350 Network Services Platform Overview

The Juniper Networks NFX350 Network Services Platform is a secure, automated, software-driven universal customer premises equipment (uCPE) platform that delivers virtualized network and security services on demand. Leveraging Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and built on the Juniper Cloud CPE solution, NFX350 enables service providers to deploy and chain multiple, secure, high-performance virtualized network functions (VNFs) on a single device.

The NFX350 is suited for large and extra-large deployments. The NFX350 is a high-end resilient uCPE platform that can be used in secure SD-WAN and secure router deployments.

Figure 1 shows the front panel of the NFX350 device.

Figure 1: Front Panel View of NFX350

Figure 2 shows the rear panel of the NFX350 device.

Figure 2: Rear Panel View of NFX350

This video provides a brief overview of the NFX350 Network Services Platform.

NFX350 Hardware

The NFX350 portfolio consists of rack-mount models, with LTE support. The NFX350 device has a 1 U form factor and comes with built-in fans and power supply.

The NFX350 device can be used as:

An SD-WAN solution.
A resilient uCPE platform.
A CPE for service providers.
A secure router for distributed enterprises.
An integrated branch router and switch, extensible with VNFs.

System Software

The NFX350 architecture integrates routing, switching, and security functions on a single platform that optimizes the usage of system resources. The architecture enables unified management of all the components through a single CLI. Key components in the NFX350 software include the Junos Control Plane (JCP), Juniper Device Manager (JDM), Layer 2 dataplane, Layer 3 dataplane, and Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). The JCP is the Junos virtual machine (VM) running on the host OS, Wind River Linux. The JCP functions as the single point of management for all the components. The JCP CLI is displayed when you log in to the NFX350 device.

Junos OS Releases Supported on NFX Series Hardware

The following table provides details of Junos OS software releases supported on the NFX Series platforms:

Table 1: Supported Junos OS Releases on NFX Series Devices
NFX Series Platform	Supported Junos OS Release	Software Package	Software Downloads Page
NFX150	18.1R1 or later	nfx-3 jinstall-host-nfx-3-x86-64-<`release-number`>- secure-signed.tgz install-media-host-usb-nfx-3-x86-64-<`release-number`>- secure.img	NFX150 Software Download Page
NFX250	15.1X53-D45, 15.1X53-D47, 15.1X53-D470, and 15.1X53-D471	nfx-2 jinstall-host-nfx-2-flex-x86-64-<`release-number` >-secure-signed.tgz install-media-host-usb-nfx-2-flex-x86-64-<`release-number`>- secure.img	NFX250 Software Download Page
	17.2R1 through 19.1R1		NFX250 Software Download Page
	19.1 R1 or later	nfx-3 jinstall-host-nfx-3-x86-64-<`release-number`>-secure-signed.tgz install-media-host-usb-nfx-3-x86-64-<`release-number`>-secure.img	NFX250 Software Download Page
NFX350	19.4 R1 or later	nfx-3 jinstall-host-nfx-3-x86-64-<`release-number`>-secure-signed.tgz install-media-host-usb-nfx-3-x86-64-<`release-number`>-secure.img	NFX350 Software Download Page

NFX350 Device Models

The NFX350 device is available in three models, with LTE support. All models are shipped with built-in AC power supply and have airflow-out (front-to-back) cooling.

Table 2 lists the NFX350 Series device models with device configurations.

Table 2: NFX350 Series Device Configurations
	NFX350-S1	NFX350-S2	NFX350-S3
CPU	8-core Intel Skylake D-2146NT	12-core Intel Skylake D-2166NT	16-core Intel Skylake D-2187NT
RAM	32GB	64GB	128GB
Storage Note: NFX350 device has two external SSD trays (JNP-SSD-M2-800GB). Each external SSD tray has a capacity of 800GB. You can order it separately.	100 GB SSD	100 GB SSD	100 GB SSD
Form Factor	Rack	Rack	Rack
Ports	Eight 1-Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports	Eight 1-Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports	Eight 1-Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports
	Eight 10-Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports	Eight 10-Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports	Eight 10-Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports
	One management/Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) port	One management/Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) port	One management/Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) port
	One console port (RJ-45 and mini-USB)	One console port (RJ-45 and mini-USB)	One console port (RJ-45 and mini-USB)
	Two USB 3.0 port	Two USB 3.0 port	Two USB 3.0 port
LTE support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Expansion module support	Two expansion module slots (one dual slot width NFX-LTE-AA/AE expansion module slot width expansion module)	Two expansion module slots (one dual slot width NFX-LTE-AA/AE expansion module slot width expansion module)	Two expansion module slots (one dual slot width NFX-LTE-AA/AE expansion module slot width expansion module)
Supported expansion modules	NFX-LTE-AE—Expansion module with an LTE modem supporting the frequency bands in Europe and North America. NFX-LTE-AA—Expansion module with an LTE modem supporting the frequency bands in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.	NFX-LTE-AE—Expansion module with an LTE modem supporting the frequency bands in Europe and North America. NFX-LTE-AA—Expansion module with an LTE modem supporting the frequency bands in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.	NFX-LTE-AE—Expansion module with an LTE modem supporting the frequency bands in Europe and North America. NFX-LTE-AA—Expansion module with an LTE modem supporting the frequency bands in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Figure 3 shows the front panel of the NFX350 device.

Figure 3: NFX350 Device

Figure 4 shows the rear panel of the NFX350 device.

Figure 4: Rear Panel of the NFX350 Device

Figure 5 shows the NFX-LTE-AA and NFX-LTE-AE devices. NFX-LTE-AA is a device model with integrated LTE modem for Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. NFX-LTE-AE is a device model with integrated LTE modem for Europe and North America.

Figure 5: NFX350 with the LTE expansion module

The LTE expansion module supports the following wireless standards:

FCC Part 2
FCC Part 22
FCC Part 24, Part 27 and Part 90
RSS 129 and RSS 133, RSS 130, RSS 199, and RSS 139
RSS 132 and RSS 133
EN 301 511 GSM
EN 301 908-1
EN 301 908-2
The Certification and Engineering Bureau of Industry Canada (IC)
Radio Equipment (RE) Directive of the European Union
GCF
CTIA-PTCRB

Benefits and Uses of NFX350

The NFX350 Network Services Platform provides these benefits:

Highly scalable, supporting multiple Juniper and third-party VNFs on a single device. The modular software architecture provides high performance and scalability for routing, switching, and security enhanced by carrier-class reliability.
Integrated security, routing, and switching functionality in a single control plane simplifies management and deployment.
Supports a variety of flexible deployments. A distributed services deployment model ensures high availability, performance, and compliance. The NFX350 provides an open framework that supports industry standards, protocols, and seamless API integration.
In addition to Ethernet connections, Wireless WAN support through the LTE expansion module provides more flexibility in deployments.
Supports advanced security features such as IPsec connectivity, applications detection, and filtering for malicious traffic.
The Secure Boot feature safeguards device credentials, automatically authenticates system integrity, verifies system configuration, and enhances overall platform security.
Automated configuration eliminates complex device setup and delivers a plug-and-play experience.