Comprehensive Product Overview

The Juniper MX304-HW-BASE is a flagship fixed-port member of Juniper’s MX Series Universal Routing Platforms, engineered to deliver hyperscale performance in a compact 2RU rack-mountable form factor. Designed to bridge the gap between mid-tier routers and core chassis systems, it addresses the most demanding bandwidth, subscriber, and service requirements for service providers, mobile operators, web-scale businesses, and large enterprises.

Built on Juniper’s Trio 6 programmable chipset, the MX304-HW-BASE delivers 4.8Tbps of system throughput and 3.6Bpps forwarding rate, supporting ultra-high-density connectivity with up to 12×400GbE QSFP-DD ports, 48×100GbE QSFP28 ports, or a flexible mix of 10G/25G/40G/50G/100G/400G interfaces. Each port supports breakout configurations (e.g., 400G→4×100G, 100G→4×25G), maximizing deployment flexibility and investment protection.

The base configuration (HW-BASE) includes 1 routing engine, 2 redundant hot-swappable AC power supplies, 3 hot-swappable fan trays, and front-to-back airflow for optimal cooling in data center environments. Powered by Junos OS Base, it provides a consistent, modular operating system with advanced routing, switching, security, and automation features, enabling seamless integration with Juniper Mist AI, Junos Space, and third-party SDN orchestration tools.

With carrier-grade reliability, industry-leading power efficiency (0.3W/Gb), and comprehensive service edge capabilities, the MX304-HW-BASE is the ideal platform for organizations scaling to 400G/100G networks while minimizing rack space and operational costs.

Key Features & Business Benefits

1. 4.8Tbps Ultra-High Capacity & Density

• Ports: Up to 12×400GbE QSFP-DD; 48×100GbE QSFP28; mixable 10G/25G/40G/50G/100G/400G
• Performance: 4.8Tbps switching capacity; 3.6Bpps forwarding rate; 128,000 queues per LMIC
• Benefit: Future-ready 400G/100G connectivity; breakout flexibility reduces port costs for high-density 10G/25G/40G deployments.

2. Compact 2RU Design & Power Efficiency

• Form Factor: 2RU rack-mountable (3.5” × 17.3” × 24”)
• Weight: 66.1 lbs (30 kg); front-to-back airflow
• Power Efficiency: 0.3W/Gb throughput
• Benefit: Saves valuable data center rack space; lower power consumption reduces OPEX for large-scale and power-constrained environments.

3. Redundant Hardware & Carrier-Grade Reliability

• Power: Redundant hot-swappable AC (1+1); optional DC/HVAC/HVDC
• Cooling: 3 hot-swappable fan trays; front-to-back airflow
• Routing Engine: 1 (base); optional 2 for redundancy
• Benefit: Minimizes downtime with redundant components; 99.999% uptime for mission-critical service provider and enterprise networks.

4. Trio 6 Chipset & Junos OS Base

• Chipset: Juniper Trio 6 (programmable, 1.6Tbps per LMIC)
• Software: Junos OS Base (routing, switching, security, MPLS, Segment Routing, EVPN)
• Management: CLI, SNMP, REST API, ZTP, Juniper Mist AI, Junos Space
• Benefit: Unified management across Juniper devices; AI-driven automation simplifies deployment and reduces operational costs; line-rate programmability supports future network innovations.

5. Advanced Security & Timing Features

• Security: Line-rate 400GbE MACsec, IPsec VPN, ACLs, 802.1X, port security
• Timing: 1588v2 Class-C, SyncE, integrated advanced timing
• Benefit: Robust security protects against advanced threats; precise timing supports 5G, mobile backhaul, and financial services applications.

Technical Specifications

Ideal Application Scenarios

1. Service Provider Metro Core/Edge: High-density 100G/400G aggregation for residential/business broadband, mobile backhaul, and video services.
2. Large Enterprise Data Center & Campus Core: 100G/400G server aggregation, spine-leaf switching, and campus backbone routing for 10,000+ users.
3. Hyperscale Cloud & Multi-Cloud Gateway: EVPN/MPLS connectivity between on-premises data centers and public cloud environments; cloud peering and inter-data center interconnection (DCI).
4. 5G & Mobile Edge: Low-latency, high-capacity routing for 5G radio access network (RAN) aggregation, edge computing, and core network connectivity.
5. Content Delivery & Colocation: High-speed peering, content caching, and colocation services for web-scale operators and MSOs.

Supported Accessories & Modules

• Transceivers: 10GBASE-SR/LR/ER/ZR; 25GBASE-SR/LR; 40GBASE-SR4/LR4; 50GBASE-SR2/LR2; 100GBASE-SR4/LR4/ER4/ZR4; 400GBASE-SR4/LR4/ER4; DAC/active optical cables for QSFP28/QSFP-DD ports.
• Line Cards: MX304-LMIC16-BASE (16×100G/4×400G per LMIC; up to 3 LMICs).
• Power Supplies: Redundant AC PSU (included); DC/HVAC/HVDC PSU (optional).
• Mounting Kits: 19” 2/4-post rack-mount brackets; cable management arms; front/rear rack guides.
• Fan Trays: Hot-swappable front-to-back fan trays (included).
• Management Accessories: Console cables; USB adapters; out-of-band management switches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does “HW-BASE” mean?

A: HW-BASE = Base hardware configuration (chassis, 1 routing engine, 2 redundant AC PSUs, 3 fan trays) + Junos OS Base license (perpetual, includes core routing/switching/security features).

Q2: Can ports be configured for different speeds?

A: Yes. The MX304 supports flexible port configurations: 400G→4×100G, 100G→4×25G, 40G→4×10G, enabling mix-and-match 10G/25G/40G/50G/100G/400G deployments.

Q3: Does it support high availability (HA)?

A: Yes. Optional dual routing engines for HA; supports VRRP/HSRP for gateway redundancy, Graceful Restart (GR), and Non-Stop Routing (NSR); redundant PSUs/fans enhance reliability.

Q4: What security features are included in Junos OS Base?

A: Line-rate MACsec (400G/100G), IPsec VPN, ACLs, 802.1X, port security, and basic inline threat protectionJuniper Networks.

Q5: Is it compatible with Juniper Mist AI?

A: Yes. It supports Mist AI Wired Assurance for zero-touch provisioning, real-time analytics, and predictive maintenance.