Service providers and cloud operators are making infrastructure investments today that pave the way for digital cohesion, enhancing the user experience while supporting emerging market trends with mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), and the continued growth of cloud networking. At the same time, these providers and operators are building out their networks to ensure performance, efficiency, and agility at cloud-era scale. To achieve these business goals and succeed in their respective hyper-competitive markets, service providers and cloud operators need software-centric edge solutions that satisfy current demand while offering investment protecting evolution to emerging technologies and growth.

Realizing this edge vision requires service-oriented edge platforms that offer the density and throughput needed to accommodate anticipated traffic growth driven by ubiquitous video content, media-rich business services, and emerging technology trends like IoT, connected vehicles, and smart cities.

Juniper Networks® MX304 Universal Routing Platform is a cloud-era platform that cost effectively addresses the evolutionary edge and metro Ethernet needs of service providers, mobile operators, web-scale operators, and multiple-service operators (MSOs). Offering ultra-high-density 10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE, 50GbE, 100GbE, and 400GbE connectivity in a space- and power-optimized package, the MX304 delivers 4.8 Tbps of throughput in just two rack units (RU), providing unmatched edge router density and performance while consuming just 0.3 W/Gb of throughput.

Powered by the same programmable Junos® Trio chipset and Junos operating system that powers the entire MX Series Universal Routing Platforms portfolio, the MX304 leverages nearly two decades of Juniper R&D investments and innovations that have transformed the economics of networking. Key features include a comprehensive suite of advanced automation and telemetry capabilities that serve as the foundation for future self-driving networks, as well as line-rate 400GbE Media Access Control Security (MACsec) encryption and integrated advanced timing. By combining service centricity, high throughput, and density with space and power efficiency, the MX304 helps network operators overcome the challenges of a hyper-connected world and profitably deliver the widest variety of services and applications.
Architecture and Key Components

The MX304 Universal Routing Platform features the following components.