TX Matrix

From Juniper Clue

Juniper TX Matrix is the name for the fabric shelf that can interconnect up to four T640 routers into a cluster. A system connecting two routers is called TX2; a system connecting four routers is called TX4. Juniper shipped first TX Matrix systems in 2004.

Multichassis system operation requires the fabric planes in the constituent routers (SIBs) to be externalized and replaced with optical versions featuring multiple lanes of surface lasers (VCSELs). When a T-series router is plugged into TX Matrix, fabric switching happens inside the Matrix shelf, which also runs a centralized control plane for the cluster.

Due to cost implications of using the optical backplane, router clusters are mostly popular with Tier 1 operators and high-end enterprise customers.