Juniper unveils EX4000 access switches to simplify enterprise network operations

Juniper has expanded its access layer options with a new switch family it says will help customers use automation and AI-based support to streamline enterprise operations.

The Juniper EX4000 line of access switches is aimed at customers with enterprise branch, remote office and campus networks who want to upgrade their systems with more advanced features than the vendor’s current line of EX2000/3000 Series boxes.

There are 10 models of the EX4000, including 8-, 12-, 24-, and 48-port models offering 2 x 1GbE/10GbE small form-factor pluggable plus transceiver (fixed uplink ports). Each EX4000 12-, 24-, and 48-port model also offers an additional 2 x 1GbE/10GbE SFP+ ports to support Virtual Chassis connections, which can be reconfigured for use as network ports, according to Juniper. All models support IEEE 802.3bz, which defines Ethernet speeds of 2.5GbE and 5GbE over twisted pair copper cabling.

The EX4000 offers Power over Ethernet++ (POE++) support to all connected devices, including phones, surveillance cameras, IoT devices, and 802.11AX/Wi-Fi 6/Wi-Fi 7 access points. POE++ lets devices remain connected even if a local server is being rebooted. It offers a PoE power budget of up to 960W on the EX4000-48MP model, with up to 60W per port, according to Juniper.

Central to the EX4000 family is its integrated support for Juniper’s AI-Native Networking Platform and the vendor’s cloud-based, natural-language Mist AI and Marvis virtual network assistant (VNA) technology. The AI platform works by gathering telemetry and user state data from Juniper’s routers, switches, access points, firewalls, and applications to offer actionable insights and automated workflows for proactive issue detection and resolution, Juniper says

Juniper’s Mist AI engine analyzes data from myriad networked access points and devices so it can detect, offer actionable resolutions, and fix anomalies and problems. 

In particular, the switch’s operating system, Junos OS, features AIOps support to drive automation and simplify configuration and management, according to a blog post by Sanjoy Dey, vice president of product management for Juniper’s campus and branch portfolio.

Relative to campus and branch deployments, for example, Junos OS lets enterprises uses AIOps capabilities to deploy entire network sites effortlessly, easily onboard new locations, and upgrade infrastructure without operational disruptions, Dey stated.

Juniper’s AI-Native operations with Wired Assurance enables proactive troubleshooting that saves IT teams valuable time, creates significant cost savings, and identifies and fixes problems before they impact user experiences, Dey stated. Wired Assurance is Juniper’s cloud-based management platform for managing enterprise campus wired networks and switches.

In addition, the Juniper Mist Access Assurance security package can be used with the EX4000s to provide “always-on” identification, authentication and authorization for every device at every point of connection, verifying that only trusted users and devices access the network, Dey wrote.