Junos Fusion Provider Edge Overview
Junos Fusion provides a method of significantly expanding the number of available network interfaces on a device—an aggregation device—by allowing the aggregation device to add interfaces through interconnections with satellite devices. The entire system—the interconnected aggregation device and satellite devices—is called a Junos Fusion. Junos Fusion simplifies network administration because it appears to the larger network as a single, port-dense device that is managed using one IP address.
Junos Fusion Provider Edge brings the Junos Fusion technology to the service provider edge. For example in a Junos Fusion Provider Edge, MX Series 5G Universal Routing Platforms act as aggregation devices while EX4300 Series and QFX5100, QFX 5110, or QFX5200 Series switches act as satellite devices.
In a Junos Fusion Provider Edge topology, each satellite device has at least one connection to the aggregation device. The aggregation device acts as the single point of management for all devices in the Junos Fusion Provider Edge. The satellite devices provide network interfaces that send and receive network traffic.
Figure 1 provides an illustration of a basic Junos Fusion Provider Edge topology.
The MX Series 5G Universal Routing Platform acting as the aggregation device in Junos Fusion Provider Edge is responsible for almost all management tasks, including interface configuration for every satellite device interface in the topology. The aggregation device runs Junos OS software for the entire Junos Fusion Provider Edge, and the network-facing interfaces on the satellite devices—extended ports—are configured from the aggregation device and support features that are supported by the version of Junos OS running on the aggregation device.
The satellite devices and the aggregation device maintain the control plane for the Junos Fusion Provider Edge using multiple internal satellite management protocols. Network traffic can be forwarded between satellite devices through the aggregation device. Junos Fusion Provider Edge supports the IEEE 802.1BR standard.
Junos Fusion Provider Edge provides the following benefits:
Simplified network topology—You can combine multiple devices into a topology that appears to the larger network as a single device, and then manage the device from a single IP address.
Port density—You can configure a large number of network-facing interfaces into a topology that operates as a single network device.
Manageability—You can manage a Junos Fusion Provider Edge that supports a large number of network-facing interfaces from a single point. The single point of management, the aggregation device, runs Junos OS software for the entire Junos Fusion Provider Edge.
Flexibility—You can easily expand the size of your Junos Fusion Provider Edge by adding satellite devices to it as your networking needs grow.
Investment protection—In environments that need to expand because the capabilities of the aggregation device are maximized, a Junos Fusion Provider Edge can be a logical upgrade option because it enables the system to evolve with minimal disruption to the existing network and without having to remove the existing, previously purchased devices from the network.