Spec Sheet

Data Sheet
1
Product Overview
The EX4600 line of Ethernet
switches delivers data center
class scale, high availability, and
high performance to campus
distribution deployments. The
EX4600 offers fixed 10 Gpbs
and modular 10 Gpbs and 40
Gbps ports, giving it the flexibility
to also be implemented in
data center top-of-rack and
service provider aggregation
deployments.
Product Description
Featuring up to 72 wire-speed 10GbE small form-factor pluggable and pluggable plus
transceiver (SFP/SFP+) ports, and up to 12 wire-speed 40GbE quad SFP+ transceiver
(QSFP+) ports in a compact one rack unit (1 U) platform, the Juniper Networks
®
EX4600
Ethernet Switch delivers 1.44 Tbps of Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity to networked devices
such as secure routers, servers, and other switches. The EX4600 base switch provides 24
fixed 1GbE SFP/10GbE SFP+ ports
1
and 4 fixed 40GbE QSFP+ ports, providing the flexibility
to support mixed 1GbE, 10GbE and 40GbE environments. A total of four models are available:
two featuring AC power supplies and front-to-back or back-to-front airflow; and two
featuring DC power supplies and front-to-back or back-to-front airflow. Each model includes
dual power supplies.
All versions feature two expansion slots that can accommodate optional expansion
modules, providing tremendous configuration and deployment flexibility for enterprise
distribution networks. Two expansion modules are available:
• 8xGBASE/10GBASE SFP/SFP+ fiber expansion module
2
• 4x40GbE QSFP+ expansion module
3
Architecture and Key Components
Virtual Chassis Technology
The EX4600 supports Juniper Networks’ unique Virtual Chassis technology, which enables
up to 10 interconnected switches to operate as a single, logical device with a single IP
address. Virtual Chassis technology enables enterprises to separate physical topology from
logical groupings of endpoints, ensuring efficient resource utilization. The EX4600 can
participate in the same Virtual Chassis configuration with the Juniper Networks EX4300
Ethernet Switch, delivering highly flexible and scalable configuration options for enterprise
distribution deployments.
EX4600 switches in a Virtual Chassis configuration can be connected using up to 16 of
the 10GbE or 40GbE ports in link aggregation groups (LAGs) across 10GbE/40GbE ports,
providing an aggregate backplane capacity of up to 1.04 Tbps.
In the data center, EX4600 Virtual Chassis deployments can extend across multiple top-
of-rack or end-of-row switches, providing tremendous configuration flexibility for 10GbE
server connectivity by only requiring redundant links between Virtual Chassis groups rather
than each physical switch to ensure high availability. In addition, mixed Virtual Chassis
configurations featuring EX4300 and EX4600 switches provide an ideal solution for data
centers with a mix of 1GbE and 10GbE servers, or for environments transitioning from 1GbE
to 10GbE server connectivity.
EX4600 Ethernet
Switch
1
If GBASE-T transceivers are used, only 12 ports can operate in 1GbE mode as GBASE-T transceivers cannot be installed in
vertically adjacent ports due to physical constraints.
2
All eight ports on the 10GbE expansion module can also operate at 1GbE.
3
Any 40GbE QSFP+ port can be split into 10GbE using breakout cables, providing a maximum of 72 wire-speed 10GbE ports.