Juniper's ACX routers are built for metro networks: access sites, cabinets and aggregation points. This guide sets the ACX2200 next to the ACX7100, points to the ACX5448 listings, and covers the spare parts for the older M7i and M10i routers. Every figure comes from Juniper's specifications, hardware guides and datasheets, listed under Sources.
The short answer
The ACX2200 is the small one: one rack unit tall, up to 60 Gbps of system throughput, AC or DC power, and an operating range from -40 to 65 C for sites without air conditioning. The ACX7100-32C is the large one: 1U with 32 100GbE ports, 4 400GbE ports and 4.8 Tbps. Buy the ACX2200 for an access site and the ACX7100 where 100GbE and 400GbE links meet.
The models side by side
| Model | Size | Throughput | Ports | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACX2200 | One rack unit (1.75 in) | Up to 60 Gbps | Metro access ports | 90 to 240 V AC, or -48 V, -60 V or +24 VDC |
| ACX7100-32C | 1U | 4.8 Tbps | 32 x 100GbE QSFP28, 4 x 400GbE QSFP56-DD | Two 1600 W modules, AC or DC |
| ACX7100-48L | 1U | 4.8 Tbps forwarding ASIC | Not listed here | DC, two redundant modules |
ACX2200: the access router
The ACX2200 is one rack unit (1.75 in) tall with up to 60 Gbps of system throughput. The ACX2200-AC takes 90 to 240 V AC, and the ACX2200-DC takes -48 V or -60 V telco power or +24 VDC. Juniper rates it to operate from -40 to 149 F (-40 to 65 C), and it mounts in 19-in. equipment racks, telco open-frame racks or enclosed cabinets, which is what lets it live in a street cabinet or a tower shelter.
ACX7100: 100GbE and 400GbE aggregation
The ACX7100-32C has 32 100GbE QSFP28 ports, which also take 40GbE QSFP+ optics, and 4 400GbE QSFP56-DD ports, with 4.8 Tbps of throughput in 1U. It runs on two hot-swappable 1600 W power supply modules, the JPSU-1600W-1UACAFO for AC or the JPSU-1600W-1UDCAFO for DC, and draws 570 W typical at 25 C and 960 W at most at 40 C, without optics. Six fan modules and a fan in each power supply module move air front to back, which Juniper writes as airflow out (AO). The DC model is rated for -48 to -60 VDC and operates from -40 to -72 VDC, and with its field replaceable units fitted the router weighs 28.58 lb (12.9 kg). The ACX7100-48L is built on a 4.8 Tbps forwarding ASIC, runs on DC with two redundant power supply modules, and has a 2.9 GHz six-core Intel CPU with 64 GB of memory and two 100 GB SSDs.
The ACX5448 listings sit on their own page; Juniper's chassis description gives them a console port, a management port and a USB port for image updates.
M7i and M10i spares
The M10i chassis (CHAS-MP-M10I-S) has 8 open PIC slots and forwards 16 million packets per second, or 16 Gbps. It needs 2 power supplies, with a third for redundancy, while the M7i needs 1, with a second for redundancy, and the PWR-M10I-M7I-AC and DC supplies fit both. The FEB-M10I-E is the M7i enhanced forwarding engine spare, the FEB-M7I-SVCS-MS-E-S adds a built-in Multiservices module, and the HCM-M10I-S is the M10i's high availability chassis manager board.
What to check before you buy
- The power feed: the ACX2200-AC and ACX2200-DC are separate models, and the ACX7100 takes AC or DC modules, never mixed.
- The airflow: the ACX7100 parts are airflow out (front to back), written AO in the router's part number and AFO in its power supply numbers.
- The site temperature: the ACX2200 is rated to 65 C.
- On an M10i, the supply count: two are needed before a third gives redundancy.
- On an ACX7100-32C-DC, the feeds: the modules take -48 to -60 VDC rated and run from -40 to -72 VDC, at up to 27.5 A.
- The draw at the site: the ACX7100-32C draws 570 W typical at 25 C and up to 960 W at 40 C before optics are added.
Lifecycle: what the dates mean
Juniper gives May 1, 2016 as the end of sale date for the M10i chassis, its fan tray and the M7i forwarding engine spares. Those routers keep running long after the date; spares of the same part number are what keep them running.
Where to look
Each model has its own page listing what is in stock: the ACX2200, the ACX7100, the ACX5448 above and the M10i and M7i parts, with the whole ACX Series. Pages in stock today include the ACX7100-32C-DC-AO, the ACX7100-48L-DC-AO, the ACX2200-AC and the M7i base AC router. For the whole maker, read the Juniper guide. Request a quote for a part that is not listed, or sell the routers you retire.
