Juniper M Series User Manual

CHAPTER 4
Monitoring Key Router Components
You monitor the key router components—the Routing Engine and the Packet Forwarding
Engine—to ensure that the router is handling general routing operations and is forwarding
packets properly. This chapter provides an overview of the these components and
includes the following information:
•
Understanding Key Router Components on page 119
•
Packet Forwarding Engine on page 120
•
Data Flow Through the Router Packet Forwarding Engine on page 122
•
Routing Engine on page 137
For information about what components comprise the Packet Forwarding Engine on
each routing platform, see “Packet Forwarding Engine” on page 120.
•
Understanding Key Router Components on page 119
•
Packet Forwarding Engine on page 120
•
Data Flow Through the Router Packet Forwarding Engine on page 122
•
Routing Engine on page 137
Understanding Key Router Components
Inspect the Routing Engine and the Packet Forwarding Engine to ensure that the router
is handling general routing operations and is forwarding packets properly.
The router consists of two major architectural components:
•
“Packet Forwarding Engine” on page 120—This high-performance, application-specific
integrated circuit (ASIC)-based component provides Layer 2 and Layer 3 packet
switching, route lookups, and packet forwarding.
•
“Routing Engine” on page 137—Provides Layer 3 routing services and network
management.
The Packet Forwarding Engine and the Routing Engine perform their primary tasks
independently, although they constantly communicate through a 100-Mbps internal link.
This arrangement provides streamlined forwarding and routing control and the capability
119Copyright © 2012, Juniper Networks, Inc.

Juniper M Series Specifications

General

Brand	Juniper
Model	M Series
Category	Network Router
Language	English