JNCIP-M exam

In this post I would like to share about JNCIP-M exam (Many people asked me after I posted JNCIE exam in this blog). Of course, without breaking the NDA.

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JNCIP-M exam concern IGP and BGP topic in the network ISP environment, also basic Junos configuration such as interfaces, SNMP and login set. Sybex book is the best resource to start. No MPLS technology and its variance will be find in this test. You can find the description of this test in this link :

Quote from official website:

“The JNCIP-M certification is designed to validate the networking professional’s ability to configure and troubleshoot common routing scenarios. Throughout this 8-hour practical exam, candidates will build an ISP consisting of seven M-series routers and multiple EBGP neighbors. Successful candidates will perform system configuration on all seven routers, install an IGP, a well-designed IBGP, establish connections with all EBGP neighbors as specified, and correctly configure the required routing policies. Passing the JNCIP-M exam is a requirement for attempting the JNCIE-M practical exam”.

Since this test is concern to IGP and BGP, you have to know IGP protocols such as ISIS and OSPF and BGP (RR and confederation) in details. For the example, No LSA type 5 in OSPF NSSA area, and no LSA type 7 in backbone area 0.0.0.0. ABR will do translation from LSA type 7 to type 5.

Below is the list of point before you take this exam:

1. Typing skill is needed. It would be good if you can exercise with another keyboard type.

2. Pay attention on basic configuration at the first time.

3. All interface must be up and running as expected in the test scenario. I don’t think you will pass if one interface down.

4. Try to make best configuration in each scenario before you are moving into the next scenario. If you still have a remaining time, you can recheck what you have configured, but at this case I recommend you to do one time configuration which is the best.

5. If you get stuck with a question, please understand the idea behind a question. If you still don’t have an idea, move to another question before time run out.

6. If you do not know exactly the question, ask the proctor to clarify. Do not make any assumption !!!

7. Prepare ALL material carefully and make sure that you are ready before the exam. Do not only concern on single topic, I.E you concern on OSPF but leave ISIS topic behind you.

8. Pay attention on BGP and routing policy

9. This is not really important, but for me I registered the exam after finishing all topic and ready for the exam. Register the exam after you are ready

10. If you finished the exam, try to calculate your score.

11. Understand and know every single topic in BGP, OSPF and all material. Sybex is the best book.

Those points above only give you general tips, but I hope it will useful for you all.

When you need to upgrade your software?

My people asking me when they want to upgrade their Junos. Do I need to upgrade to the latest release? That’s very common question asking by many customers.

Personally (this is only in my mind), I’m a kind of person who do not like to upgrade the software. Especially in the big ISP environment when dealing with more than 100 routers.

Software upgrade in Junos is very simple things, you only needs to transfer your file via FTP, and do remote upgrade for just a couple of days. However, I will not recommend software upgrades unless you really needs some features which is maybe only supported in the next release.

Below is the list of what I usually consider before making recommendation for software upgrades.

1. You hit a bugs and has fixed in latest (maybe latest) version.

What can you do if you hit a bugs ? hehe… Nothing perfect in this world.

2. New hardware only supported in the specific software version.

In this case, there is no other choice rather than using supported software to these new hardware (i.e new module, interface card, etc).

3. You need new features that only available in the next release.

Network standards and RFC growth very fast. New technology standard will only supported in the latest release since the RFC is still new. You have no choice rather than using latest release. For the example (today) is ethernet-oam, nonstop-routing, etc.

4. Better software architectures.

Each release of software probably has unique architectures. Latest software somehow has better architectures than the previous one. For instance, memory distribution, mpls code, bgp code etc. You can take an advantages using latest release.

5. Software has reached EOL for a long time.

Btw, this is just my personal opinion and not represent any organization or company.

If you have another opinion, please let me know

Let’s make a better world.