Juniper Networks ACX4000
Universal Access Router

Architecture:

Powered by Juniper Networks Junos operating system, the ACX Series routers complement Juniper Networks MX Series 3D Universal Edge Routers through a flexible and scalable service provider and enterprise branch routing portfolio optimized to support rapidly growing mobile, video, and cloud computing applications. The ACX Series introduces Juniper's proven IP/ MPLS leadership from core and edge into the access layers of the network. Maintaining relative simplicity in the access network, the ACX Series supports a rich suite of L2, L3, and IP/MPLS functionality to allow large-scale seamless MPLS networks with simplified service provisioning and operations

• Seamless MPLS-ACX Series routers support both Ethernet bridging and MPLS. Growing demands in bandwidth are accompanied by network growth in terms of number of nodes. In some cases, we can see demands to scale a network up to tens of thousands of nodes. Seamless MPLS architecture enables scale and service flexibility by decoupling physical topology for transport and service layers. With a seamless MPLS architecture, service providers can leverage the existing investment of MPLS in the core and edge and extend the operational benefit into the access layer, enabling higher network service flexibility and higher scaling parameters of the MAN where metro Ethernet services can span across multiple network segments and be seamlessly terminated at any point of the network or cloud.
  
  
• Junos OS-Junos OS is a reliable, high-performance, modular network operating system that is supported across all of Juniper's physical and virtual routing, switching, and security platforms. Junos OS improves network operations and increases service availability, performance, and security with features like low-latency multicast, comprehensive QoS, unified in-service software upgrade (unified ISSU), and Junos Continuity, which eliminates the risk and complexity of OS upgrades. Junos OS comes with embedded scripting tools and APIs, which enable automation of many routines and allow integration practically with any operator's back-end management tools. With secure programming interfaces, the Juniper Extension Toolkit (JET), versatile scripting support, and integration with popular orchestration frameworks, Junos OS offers flexible options for DevOps-style management that can unlock more value from the network.
  
  
• Management-Junos Space Network Management Platform provides comprehensive management with broad fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security management (FCAPS) capabilities, for both device and service-level management. For device management, it supports NETCONF, CLI, SNMP v1/v2/v3 protocols, and its northbound APIs support easy integration with existing network management systems (NMS) and operations/ business support systems (OSS/BSS). Running on the Junos Space Management Platform, Junos Space Connectivity Services Director ensures effortless end-toend service provisioning of TDM, ATM, Carrier Ethernet (E-LINE, E-LAN, E-TREE, E-Access), VPLS, L3VPN, and MPLS, using a simple interface to design, validate, and manage these services. Another application of Junos Space, Cross Provisioning Platform (CPP) helps service providers provision E-LINE, Layer 2/3 VPN services, and virtual private LAN service (VPLS) between Juniper devices and those from third-party vendors.

Features and Benefits:

The ACX Series delivers new levels of programmability, reliability, and scalability to the service provider and enterprise networks. The ACX Series portfolio improves customer satisfaction while lowering the total cost of operating, maintaining, and updating the network infrastructure.

Zero Touch Deployment (ZTD)

Based on Junos OS automation capabilities, ACX Series routers support a zero touch deployment (ZTD) model. The ZTD model significantly minimizes the time for any new equipment installation and provisioning, resulting in lower OpEx and TCO and improved operational efficiency. In addition, the zero touch deployment model reduces the traditional complexity of deploying MPLS in the access.

Integrated High-Precision Timing

The ACX Series incorporates1 highly scalable and reliable hardware-based timing technology, based on Juniper Networks intellectual property that meets the strictest LTE-A requirements for frequency and phase synchronization. Providing an accurate timing reference is one of the most significant technical and operational challenges for deployment of LTE radio access networks. ACX Series routers support Synchronous Ethernet for frequency as well as Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for both frequency and phase synchronization. Furthermore, the ACX Series allows Synchronous Ethernet and PTP to be used in a hybrid mode for the highest level of frequency (10 ppb) and phase (<500 nS) accuracy required for LTE-A.

Advanced Security Services

One of the significant challenges in the rollout of small cells is to address the security threats from easily accessible locations. The ACX Series enables advanced security services such as IPsec, MACsec, NAT, and TPM to protect against potential vulnerabilities to the network as well as subscriber traffic. Hardware acceleration through a purpose-built services engine enhances the scalability of these computational-intensive services to support a large-scale small cell deployment.

Enhanced Service Assurance, SLA Management, and Ethernet OAM

The ACX Series routers provide the most comprehensive set of features. Using 802.3ah, 802.1ag, Y.1731, Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol (TWAMP) and RFC2544, mobile operators and wholesale service providers can make sure that the services being offered through ACX Series routers are meeting the desired service-level agreements.

High Availability and Reliability

Junos Continuity and unified ISSU features remove the downtime risks associated with implementing new hardware or upgrading operating systems. Junos Continuity eliminates OS upgrades and system reboots when adding new hardware to ACX Series routers-a plug-in package provides the drivers and support files needed to bring the hardware online. Unified ISSU reduces the risks associated with OS upgrades by enabling upgrades between two different Junos OS releases (major or minor) with no control plane disruption and minimal traffic disruption on the forwarding plane.

MEF CE 2.0 Compliant

The ACX Series routers are all MEF CE 2.0 compliant and could support all Carrier Ethernet services, which include E-LINE, E-LAN, E-TREE, and E-ACCESS.

Full Feature Set of L2, L3, IP/MPLS

The ACX Series routers support a full feature set of L2, L3, and IP/ MPLS. Service providers can not only monetize Layer 2 Ethernet services, but also Layer 3, IP/IP-VPN services, etc., for greater monetization.

Specifications:

¹ See Table 2 for E1/T1/STM/OC ports support per each platform.
² SLM and DM are supported.
³ RFC2544 reflector mode only.
⁴ Some restrictions are applicable. See technical documentation for details.

Approvals:

Interface Options:

Built-In Interface Options for Various ACX Series Models

* SFP+ ports can be configured to be 1GbE ports and accept 1GbE small form-factor pluggable transceiver (SFP)
** When equipped with appropriate I/O MIC modules. See table with “Ordering Information”

Views:

Top Front View

Front View

Rear View

Left Angle View

Right Angle View

Documentation:

Download the Juniper Networks ACX Series Data Sheet (PDF).