1-4
Cisco MGX 8800/8900 Series Hardware Installation Guide
Releases 2 - 5.2, Part Number OL-4545-01, Rev. H0, May 2006
Chapter1 Product Overviews
How this Chapter Is Organized
Overview of Terms
Each acronym in this book is defined on its first use and in the Glossary at the end of the guide. Types
of cards are also defined in the Glossary. For example, MCC is miniature coaxial cabl e.
In addition to the Glossary, you may find the following discussion of terms helpful.
MGX switches are called multiservice switches, because they can be used for multiple services, such as
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) or Frame Relay (FR) transmissions. Each switch can also be used
in different parts of a network. For example, the MGX 8950 can be at the core, the MGX 8850 (P XM45)
can be used at the edge, the MGX 8850 (PXM1E) and M GX 8830 switches can do Private
Network-to-Network Interface (PNNI) routing and function as feeders.
As of this printing, you can find information about the features of each switch in either of the following
ways:
•Go to www.cisco.com and search for the switch name.
•Go to http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps1938/index.html and click on “Cisco
MGX 8000 Series Switches”.

MGX

MGX originally stood for media gateway switch, and over time, the MGX family has grown in speed,
utility, and functionality as described throughout this guide.
Each MGX switch name is a trademark of Cisco (for example, C isco MGX 8950). But for convenience,
in this book, the switch name is often shortened (for example, MGX 8950).

Processor Cards

Each MGX switch or gateway requires a processor switching module (PXM) controller card. Starting
with Release 3, there were three models of MGX 8850 switches, so for clarity, the controller card was
added to the MGX 8850 switch name, when applicable. For example, MGX 8850 (PXM1), MGX 8850
(PXM45), and MGX 8850 (PXM1E).
Table 1 -2 shows the processor cards supported for each mode l of switch and the 8880 Media Gateway.
Table1-2 Processor Card Support
Supports
Model PXM1E PXM45/B1
1. In this guide, collectively referred to as PXM45, unless otherwisespecified.
PXM45/C1Release
8850 x Release 2 and above.
x Release 4 and above.
x Release 3 and above.
8850/B x x Release 5.1 and above.
8950 x x Release 2.1 and above.
8830 x Release 3 and above.
8830/B x x Release 5.1 and above.
8880 x Release 5 and above.