Juniper Networks EX9253 Ethernet Switch
Compact, evolved core for business agility and cloud.

EX9251 Overview:

The EX9250 line of Ethernet switches provides compact, programmable, and scalable core and aggregation devices for enterprise environments, reducing cost and complexity while offering carrier-class reliability. The EX9250 Ethernet switches dramatically simplify campus and data center architectures by enabling evolved enterprise core deployments with Junos Fusion Enterprise and Ethernet VPN, creating a path to a 100GbE core.

The EX9250 switches serve as the foundation for Junos Fusion Enterprise architecture, a standards-based approach for creating an open, highly scalable switch fabric for the enterprise campus. Junos Fusion Enterprise dramatically simplifies campus deployments by collapsing the entire network into a single management point, with the EX9250 as its core. Junos Fusion Enterprise can also serve as the shared core for enterprise campus environments that have on-premises data centers.

EX9250 switches empower organizations to deploy an evolved enterprise core, supporting layer 2 or layer 3 applications by combining Ethernet VPN (EVPN) and Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) technologies. Using these open technologies allows enterprises to create a coherent, end-to-end network across geographically dispersed locations while leveraging unified policies to segment traffic.

Two EX9250 switches are available: the EX9251, a 1 U, compact, fixed device; and the EX9253, a 3 U, compact, chassis device with two available slots. The EX9251 features 4 quad small form-factor pluggable transceiver (QSFP) ports and 8 SFP+ ports. The EX9253 can deliver up to 1.2 Tbps (full duplex) per slot.

The Juniper Networks® EX9250 line of compact, programmable, and scalable Ethernet switches is ideal for aggregating access switches such as Juniper Networks EX2300, EX3400, EX4300, and EX4600 Ethernet Switches deployed in campus wiring closets and in on-premises data centers.

Two EX9250 chassis options are available, providing considerable deployment flexibility:

• EX9251 Ethernet Switch is a fixed-configuration 1 U chassis that supports 8-port 1GbE/10GbE and 4-port 40GbE/100GbE.
• EX9253 Ethernet Switch is a two-slot modular 3 U chassis that supports any combination of the following line cards:
• EX9253-6Q12C, a 12-port QSFP28 40GbE/100GbE and 6-port QSFP+ 40GbE line card
• EX9253-6Q12C-M, a 12-port QSFP28 40GbE/100GbE and 6-port QSFP+ 40GbE line card with Media Access Control Security (MACsec) support

Fully configured, a single EX9253 chassis can support up to 144 10GbE ports (all at wire speed), delivering one of the industry’s densest line-rate 10GbE port densities for this class of feature-rich and programmable switch. The EX9253 switch is capable of delivering up to 2.4 Tbps per slot.

Custom Silicon

The EX9250 switches are based on Juniper One custom silicon, an ASIC designed by Juniper that provides a programmable Packet Forwarding Engine (PFE) and natively supports networking protocols such as virtualization using MPLS over IP and overlay network protocols. ASIC micro code changes, delivered through updates to Juniper Networks Junos® operating system, protect investments by allowing existing hardware to support new or future networking protocols.

As a key component of Juniper’s Cloud-Enabled Enterprise architecture, EX9250 switches provide a simple, open, and smart approach to building enterprise networks. The EX9250 switches support Junos Fusion Enterprise technology, which enables a large number of devices deployed throughout a building to be managed as a single logical device. The EX9250 switches also support Data Center Interconnect (DCI), critical to workload mobility and application availability, by delivering leading technologies such as MPLS, virtual private LAN service (VPLS), and Ethernet VPN (EVPN).

EX9250 switches offer Evolved Enterprise Core capabilities that allow the creation of larger networks supporting both Layer 2 and Layer 3 application traffic. An Evolved Enterprise Core is enabled by combining technologies such as EVPN and Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN). EVPN uses control plane-based learning to ensure efficient network utilization and natively supports active/active multihoming. VXLAN overlay with EVPN allows L2 connectivity across the network while providing active/active redundancy, aliasing, and mass media access control (MAC) withdrawal. In an Evolved Enterprise Core, the provider edge (PE) switch/router can, in most cases, also use a VXLAN L3 gateway and route between VXLAN segments when required. Since the core is a standard IP network, EVPN/VXLAN allows the creation of an evolved core without having to replace the rest of the core infrastructure. Enabling an evolved core with EVPN provides flexibility by integrating with Junos Fusion and other technologies in the distribution/access layer, paving the way for a broader EVPN deployment over time.

The EX9250 line of switches is designed with simplicity in mind to enable the Self-Driving Network™, with the goal of detecting and correcting network faults and anomalies before services or customer experiences can be impacted. The following capabilities, integrated into the EX9250 switches, make this possible.

• Automation: In addition to integration with Puppet, Python, OpenStack, and other automation applications, Juniper Extension Toolkit (JET), available on the EX9250 switches, covers all phases of network design, construction, provisioning, and operations implemented with the APIs and programming tools to deliver more programmatic interaction. JET provides a notification API that allows users to subscribe to events and designate a callback function, as well as a service API that allows users to access the control plane and management plane to run operational and configuration commands.
• Analytics: Junos Telemetry Interface (JTI), available on the EX9250 switches, delivers advanced telemetry for collecting the data needed to detect the state of network resources and services. This includes capacity analysis, scenario simulation, and detection, as well as prevention of network incidents. JTI uses a push model to deliver data asynchronously, eliminating the need for polling, while allowing a management station to request data once and subscribe to streaming periodic updates. As a result, JTI can effectively scale to support thousands of devices, gathering telemetry data essential to the Self-Driving Network.

Like all EX Series switches, as well as Juniper virtual and physical SRX Series Services Gateways, the EX9250 switches are supported by management applications such Junos Space® Network Director and the Juniper Sky™ Enterprise cloud management offering.

Architecture and Key Components:

Software Functionality

The EX9251 and the EX9253 switches support an extensive set of L2 and L3 services. EX9250 switches are built on Juniper One custom silicon, which supports a wide range of L2 and L3 Ethernet functionality, including 802.1Q VLAN, link aggregation, Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), L2-to-L3 mapping, and port monitoring. Additionally, the line cards support filtering, sampling, load balancing, rate limiting, class of service (CoS), and other key features needed for the deployment of dependable, high-performance Ethernet infrastructure.

EX9250 Routing Engine

The Routing Engine used by the EX9250 line of switches is based on the same field-proven hardware architecture used by Juniper Networks routers, bringing the same carrier-class performance and reliability to the EX9250 that Juniper routers bring to the world’s largest service provider networks. The RE’s central CPU performs all system control functions and maintains hardware forwarding table and routing protocol states for the switches.

• The EX9251 supports control and management plane functionality with a single integrated RE that features an 8-core, 1.6 GHz Intel processor with 32 gigabytes of DRAM, and an internal fixed SSD providing 100 GB of storage for Junos OS images and logs. Dedicated hardware on the RE supports chassis management functions such as environmental monitoring.
• The EX9253 supports control and management plane functionality with an integrated RE that features an 8-core, 1.6 GHz Intel processor with 64 gigabytes of DRAM and dual front-pluggable SSDs, each providing 100 GB of storage for Junos OS images and logs. Dedicated hardware on the RE supports chassis management functions such as environmental monitoring. Communication between the RE modules and individual line cards takes place over a dedicated internal GbE out-of-band control interface.

Both the EX9251 and EX9253 feature AUX, console, and Ethernet ports on the front panel to support out-of-band system management and monitoring, while an external USB port accommodates a removable media interface for manually installing Junos OS images.

Power

All EX9250 switches support both AC and DC power supplies; however, AC and DC supplies cannot be mixed in the same chassis.

• The EX9251 supports up to two AC or DC power supplies. The AC supplies accept 100 to 240 V AC input and deliver 650 watts of power to the chassis, while the DC power supplies accept -40 to -72 V DC input and deliver 650 watts of power. The EX9251 can be provisioned with either one or two AC power supplies with high line (200-240 V AC) power inputs; one or two AC power supplies with low line (100-120 V AC) power inputs; or one or two DC power supplies.
• The EX9253 supports up to six AC or DC power supplies. The AC supplies accept 100 to 240 V AC input and deliver 6600 W at 110 V and 9600 W at 220 V, while the DC power supplies accept -40 to -72 V DC input and deliver 6600 W of power to the chassis. The EX9253 can be provisioned with three to six AC power supplies with high line (200-240 V AC) power inputs; three to six AC power supplies with low line (100-120 VAC) power inputs; or three to six DC power supplies.

Table 2. EX9253 Power Consumption

	Typical Power	Maximum Power
EX9253-6Q12C Line Card	740 W	800 W
EX9253-6Q12C-M Line Card	770 W	835 W

Table 3. EX9250 Maximum Power Consumption

	EX9251	EX9253
100-120 V AC Input	300 W	2692 W
200-240 V AC Input	300 W	2692 W
-40 to -72 V DC Input	312 W	2692 W

Features & Benefits:

Simplified Network Architectures

The EX9250 line of switches is ideal for simplifying campus, data center, and combined campus and data center network
environments by collapsing network layers.

When deployed in a multichassis link aggregation (MC-LAG) configuration in the campus, the EX9250 switches—working in conjunction with Juniper access layer switches like the EX4300, EX3400, and EX2300—eliminate the need for Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and collapse the core and aggregation layers, dramatically simplifying the network architecture and network operations.

Similarly, in the data center, the EX9250 switches can be used to collapse core and aggregation layers. When used with Juniper access switches in an MC-LAG configuration, the EX9251 and EX9253 reduce the number of managed devices by more than 50% and eliminate the need for STP.

In combined campus and data center environments, the EX9250 line consolidates network layers to simplify the network architecture and operations. In all scenarios, the EX9250 line of switches delivers a simple, secure, virtualized network environment that increases enterprise business agility.

High Availability

When serving as core switches, the EX9250 line delivers a number of high availability features that ensure uninterrupted, carrier-class performance in addition to redundant, hotswappable power supplies and field-replaceable fans. Each EX9253 chassis includes an extra slot to accommodate a redundant RE to serve as a backup in hot-standby mode, ready to take over in the event of a master RE failure. If the master fails, the integrated L2 and L3 GRES feature of Junos OS, working in conjunction with the NSR and NSB features, ensures a seamless transfer of control to the backup, maintaining uninterrupted access to applications, services, and IP communications.

Carrier-Class Operating System

The EX9250 line of switches runs the same Junos OS used by all other Juniper Networks EX Series Ethernet Switches, as well as the Juniper Networks routers that power the world’s largest and most complex networks.

By using a common operating system, Juniper delivers a consistent implementation and operation of control plane features across all products. To maintain that consistency, Junos OS adheres to a highly disciplined development process that uses a single source code, follows a single release train, and employs a highly available modular architecture that prevents isolated failures from bringing down an entire system.

Figure 2: EX9250 collapses layers in campus, data center, and combined campus and data center environments.

These attributes are fundamental to the core value of the software, enabling all Junos OS-powered products to be updated simultaneously with the same software release. All features are fully regression tested, making each new release a true superset of the previous version; customers can deploy the software with complete confidence that all existing capabilities will be maintained and operate in the same way.

Simplified Management and Operations

A range of system management options are available for the EX9250 line.

The standard Junos OS CLI provides the same granular management capabilities and scripting parameters found in all Junos OS-powered devices. In addition, integrated Junos XML management protocol tools provide early detection and automatic resolution of potential problems related to the operating system.

Juniper Networks Junos Space software provides system-level management across all EX Series switches, as well as other Juniper products deployed throughout the network—all from a single console.

Juniper Sky Enterprise simplifies the deployment process by building in a “phone home” capability for branch secure router and switches to eliminate pre-staging and allow all management from a central IT operations center. The simple yet flexible solution uses standard SRX Series firewalls and EX Series switches, allowing customization at the operations center where required.

MACsec

The EX9253-12C8Q-M line card supports IEEE 802.1ae MACsec with AES-256 bit encryption, ensuring link-layer data confidentiality, data integrity, and data origin authentication. A single EX9253-SFL license is required for the EX9253 chassis to enable MACsec in software.

Defined by IEEE 802.1ae, MACsec provides secure, encrypted communication at the link layer that is capable of identifying and preventing threats from DoS and other intrusion attacks, as well as man-in-the-middle, masquerading, passive wiretapping, and playback attacks launched from behind the firewall. When deployed on switch ports, MACsec encrypts all traffic on the wire but not inside the switch itself. This allows the switch to apply policies such as QoS, deep packet inspection, and sFlow to each packet without compromising the security of packets on the wire.

Hop-by-hop encryption enables MACsec to secure communications while maintaining network intelligence. In addition, Ethernet-based WAN networks can use MACsec to secure links over long-haul connections. MACsec is transparent to L3 and higher layer protocols and is not limited to IP traffic; it works with any type of wired or wireless traffic traversing Ethernet links.

Scale Licenses

EX9251-ML and EX9253-ML Mega Scale license SKUs enable an EX9250 line chassis to support 512,000 FIB and ARP entries. Only one ML license is required per chassis.

Table 1. EX9250 Features at a Glance

Feature	EX9251	EX9253
Architecture	Single data, control, and management plane	Separate dedicated data, control, and management planes
Power	Holds up to two power supplies: -40 to -72 V DC (1+1 redundancy) Autosensing 120/240 V AC (1+1 redundancy) Maximum power draw: 312 W (DC), 300 W (AC)	Holds up to six power supplies: -40 to -72 V DC (3+1 redundancy) 100-120 V AC (3+1 redundancy) 200-240 V AC (3+1 redundancy) Maximum power draw: 2692 W (DC), 2692 W (AC)
Cooling	Internally redundant fan tray with front-to-back airflow	Internally redundant fan tray with front-to-back airflow
Weight (fully loaded)	23.15 lb (10.5 kg)	120 lb (54.43 kg)
Maximum throughput	Up to 800 Gbps	Up to 4.8 Tbps
Routing Engine (RE)	Integrated single RE 1.6 GHz, 8 core Intel Xeon processor Up to 32 gigabytes DRAM Solid-state drive (SSD) (up to 100 GB) Console, auxiliary serial, and Ethernet management ports USB storage interface	Master and backup REs (1+1 redundancy) 1.6 GHz, 8-core Intel Xeon processor Up to 64 gigabytes DRAM Dual front pluggable solid-state drive (SSD) (up to 100 GB each) Console, auxiliary serial, and Ethernet management ports USB storage interface
Operating system	Juniper Networks Junos operating system	Juniper Networks Junos operating system
High availability	Hardware designed for continuous operation: Secure, modular architecture that isolates faults Separate control and forwarding planes that enhance scalability and resiliency	Hardware designed for continuous operation: Secure, modular architecture that isolates faults Separate control and forwarding planes that enhance scalability and resiliency Transparent failover and network recovery Graceful Routing Engine switchover (GRES) Nonstop active routing (NSR) Nonstop bridging (NSB)
Layer 2 features	Up to 1 million MAC addresses Up to 512,000 Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) entries with mid-scale (ML) license (256,000 entries without ML license) Up to 512,000 forwarding information base (FIB) entries with ML license (256,000 entries without ML license) Jumbo frames (9192 bytes maximum) 32,000 VLANs VLAN Registration Protocol 802.3ad—Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) 802.1D—Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) 802.1w—Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) 802.1s—Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) VLAN Spanning Tree Protocol (VSTP) Layer 2 Protocol Tunneling (L2PT)
Layer 3 features	1 million IPv4 routing information base (RIB) 1 million IPv6 RIB Static routing RIP v1/v2 OSPF v1/v2 OSPF v3 Filter-based forwarding Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) IPv6 Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) Virtual routers BGP (Advanced Feature license) IS-IS (Advanced Feature license)
Hardware tunneling	GRE tunnels MPLS capabilities (Advanced Feature License) VPLS BGP/MPLS VPNs Ethernet VPNs
Multicast	Up to 256,000 IPv4 multicast routes Up to 256,000 IPv6 multicast routes Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) v1/v2/v3 IGMP snooping Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) v1/v2 MLD snooping Protocol Independent Multicast PIM-SM, PIM-SSM, PIM-DM Multicast Source Discovery Protocol (MSDP)
Firewall filters	Ingress and egress L2-L4 access control lists (ACLs): Port ACLs VLAN ACLs Router ACLs Control plane denial-of-service (DoS) protection
Quality of service (QoS)	16,000 policers per chassis 8 egress queues per port Weighted random early detection (WRED) scheduling Weighted round-robin (WRR) queuing Strict priority queuing
Virtualization	Integration with Juniper Contrail Platform Integration with VMware NSX vSphere Network virtualization protocols such as VXLAN VXLAN L2 and L3 gateway EVPN and VPLS for DCI
Management	Junos OS CLI Junos XML management protocol SNMP v1/v2/v3 RADIUS TACACS+ Extensive MIB support Firewall-based port mirroring Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) Advanced Insight Solutions (AIS)

Specifications:

Table 4. EX9250 System Capacity

	EX9251	EX9253
Maximum throughput bandwidth/slot	800 Gbps 400 Gbps full duplex	2.4 Tbps/slot 1.2 Tbps full duplex
Maximum 10GbE port density (wire speed)	24	144 (with break out cables)
Maximum 40GbE port density (wire speed)	4	36
Maximum 100GbE port density (wire speed)	4	24

Table 5. Chassis Specifications

	EX9251	EX9253
Dimensions (W x H x D):	17.6 x 1.75 x 18.7 in. (44.7 x 4.45 x 47.5 cm)	19 x 5.217 x 30 in. (48.26 x 13.25 x 76.2 cm) Total depth includes standard cable manager measurements
Rack units	1 U	3 U
Weight (fully loaded)	23.15 lb (10.5 kg)	120 lb (54.43 kg)
Total number of slots	N/A	3
Slots available for line cards	N/A	2

Table 6. EX9253 Line Card Capacities

Line Cards	EX9253
EX9253-6Q12C	2.4 Tbps
EX9253-6Q12C-M	2.4 Tbps

Documentation:

Download the Juniper Networks EX9250 Ethernet Switch Datasheet(PDF).