Where does the Juniper MX204 fit in the crowded router field?

When it comes to bandwidth, “too much of a good thing” isn’t really a thing. But budgets aren’t infinite, so how do you strike the right balance between performance and cost? In this post, we’ll dissect the Juniper MX204, the mid-range model of the powerful MX router series--and a router that just might hit that price/performance sweet spot for some.

The Juniper MX204 is a versatile, compact router that combines industry-leading system capacity, performance, and density with unrivalled longevity, satisfying many of the same service provider/data center needs as its big boy brothers (like the MX480)—at a fraction of the price. 

But unlike Avengers: Endgame, the Juniper MX204 isn’t perfect. So is the MX204 right for your needs? To help you answer that question, we’ll outline its features and drawbacks in the next few paragraphs. For starters, let’s compare the MX204 with the MX104 (lower tier) and the MX480 (higher tier) models:

Small but mighty

While the MX204 will never provide the scalability needed to run an Google-grade server farm, its high-density platform is a significant upgrade from the MX104, and it offers more than enough power for most service providers. The one-rack unit also takes up very little space, reducing critical rent and power costs — a claim no other MX router can make.

Although the small-scale unit packs an enormous punch, the biggest setback of the MX204 is that it’s not modular or RE redundant, requiring you to add an additional unit if you want more ports or full redundancy. But since the router is relatively affordable, buying multiples just for the sake of backup could be a viable option. You know what they say, “Two is better than one.” (That’s actually in the Bible--like, for real.)

The flexibility to have it your way

The MX204 leaves the door wide open to your personal port preferences. Enabling more combos than you’ll see in a UFC fight, its 400 Gbps system can support up to 24 10GbE, 4 40 GbE, or 4 100 GbE interfaces — in any arrangement. The router also supports automation and Junos Fusion virtualization technology.

More security for less

While the MX204 doesn’t support flash backup technology, it sports the same firewall filters, video monitoring, and other inline services as Juniper’s top tier series models. In other words, you’re getting Robocop security at Paul Blart pricing. 

Don’t skim on your network’s future

Isaac Asimov once wrote: “I do not fear computers, I fear a lack of them.”

Data volumes are set to continue the trend of explosive growth over the next several years. So it should come as no surprise that a recent TechTarget survey showed that IT professionals are putting networking upgrades as their top priority in the year ahead. 

Why not spend a little more now (even though you might not currently need the full power the MX204 provides) and give yourself a little wiggle room to meet future demands?

With Juniper being a leader in the networking and routing industry, you can’t go wrong with any of the MX series. But if you’re looking for a router with a good mix of power, cost-efficiency, and headroom, the MX204 is hard to beat.

Routing you to the perfect fit

The team at Terabit Systems specializes in providing quality refurbished networking equipment-- as well as industry leading customer service--to clients worldwide. Check out our selection of Juniper routers and so much more. Email us or call +1 (415) 230-4353 to speak to a Terabit representative for a quote today.