Juniper 12-Ports QSFP+/QSFP28 Full Scale L2/L2.5 Multirate Port Line Card – MPC7E-MRATE

Juniper MPC7E-MRATE 12-Port Multirate QSFP+/QSFP28 Line Card for MX240 / MX480 / MX960

The Juniper MPC7E-MRATE is a 12-port multirate QSFP+/QSFP28 Modular Port Concentrator for the Juniper MX240, MX480, and MX960 Universal Routing Platforms — supporting 40GbE (QSFP+) and 100GbE (QSFP28) per-port operation with full L2/L2.5 scale and advanced Junos MPLS features for service provider core, edge, and multi-service deployments.

Key Features

• 12 x multirate ports supporting QSFP+ (40GbE) and QSFP28 (100GbE) transceivers
• Full L2 and L2.5 scale for VPLS, L2VPN, and bridging applications on MX-series
• MPC7E generation — enhanced forwarding performance and feature depth vs. MPC3E/MPC4E
• Hot-plug capable for online insertion and removal in active MX chassis
• Supports per-port 40G or 100G speed selection for mixed-rate deployments

Product Specifications

• Part Number: MPC7E-MRATE
• Manufacturer: Juniper Networks
• Component Type: Modular Port Concentrator (MPC)
• Compatible Systems: Juniper MX240, MX480, MX960
• Ports: 12 x QSFP+/QSFP28 (40GbE/100GbE multirate)
• L2 Scale: Full — VPLS, L2VPN, bridging
• Hot-Plug: Yes

Switch & Port Specifications

• Port Modes: 40GbE (QSFP+) or 100GbE (QSFP28) per port independently
• Max Capacity: Up to 1.2 Tbps per MPC (12 x 100G)
• Breakout: 4x10GbE per QSFP+ port via breakout cables
• Redundancy: Chassis redundant via MX SCB and dual RE

Network & Protocol Specifications

• MPLS: RSVP-TE, LDP, Segment Routing, traffic engineering
• VPN: L2VPN, L3VPN, EVPN, VPLS (full L2 scale)
• Multicast: PIM SM/SSM, multicast VPN, IGMP
• QoS: Hierarchical QoS, traffic shaping, policing
• Management: Junos OS CLI, NETCONF, Juniper Paragon Automation

Use Cases

• Service provider MX240/MX480/MX960 40G/100G mixed-rate line card for core and edge
• VPLS and L2VPN service delivery requiring full L2 scale on MX-series platforms
• Upgrading MX chassis from MPC3E or MPC4E to MPC7E generation for 100G capability
• Flexible 40G/100G per-port configuration in MX backbone and peering deployments

Compatibility

• Juniper MX240, MX480, and MX960 Universal Routing Platforms
• Requires Enhanced Switch Control Board (SCBE3 or later) for full MPC7E performance
• Accepts standard QSFP+ 40G and QSFP28 100G transceivers and DAC/AOC cables
• Verify Junos OS version for MPC7E-MRATE support before installation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does L2.5 scale mean on the MPC7E-MRATE?

L2.5 refers to features that sit between pure L2 bridging and full L3 routing — including MPLS forwarding, pseudowire services, and VPLS. Full L2/L2.5 scale on the MPC7E-MRATE means it can support large MAC tables, extensive VPLS instances, and pseudowire terminations required by service provider Carrier Ethernet deployments.

Can MPC7E-MRATE ports run at both 40G and 100G simultaneously?

Yes — each of the 12 ports independently supports either QSFP+ (40GbE) or QSFP28 (100GbE) operation. You can mix 40G and 100G optics across the 12 ports based on your network”s interface requirements and available transceiver inventory.

What SCB is required for MPC7E-MRATE in MX480?

The MPC7E-MRATE requires the SCBE3 (Switch Control Board Enhanced 3) or later in MX480 and MX960 to provide sufficient switch fabric bandwidth for 100G line card operation. Verify your MX chassis SCB generation before installing MPC7E generation line cards.

The Juniper MPC7E-MRATE brings 12-port 40G/100G multirate flexibility with full L2/L2.5 scale to MX240, MX480, and MX960 — providing the VPLS, EVPN, and MPLS line card capability that service provider core and Carrier Ethernet deployments require with per-port speed flexibility and MPC7E generation forwarding performance.