What is the technical name for a Juniper Networks line card?

A line card in Juniper Networks hardware is technically referred to as an FPC, which stands for Flexible PIC Concentrator. This is a critical component in Juniper routers that allows for the installation of various types of interface cards, known as PICs. The FPC serves as the main interface between the system's routing engine and one or more PICs, facilitating the transmission of data and ensuring the device can support multiple connection types and speeds.

The FPC’s architecture allows for flexibility and scalability, enabling network operators to customize their routers to meet specific needs by adding different PICs for various functions such as Ethernet, SONET, or even specialized interface types. This design supports not only efficiency but also easier upgrades in response to evolving network demands.

In contrast, PICs are the specific cards that provide the actual interfaces, and JUNOS is the operating system used by Juniper devices, while ASIC stands for Application-Specific Integrated Circuit, which refers to specialized hardware components used to perform specific tasks within the devices.