JNCIP-DC study plan
JNCIP-DC · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Data Center Architecture and Deployment & Data Center Switching and Fabric Technologies
Map the JNCIP-DC blueprint against your current knowledge and log a confidence score (1-5) plus a gap note for each domain
Sketch a two-tier VXLAN EVPN spine-leaf topology from memory, labeling underlay links, loopbacks, anycast gateways, and border roles
Configure and verify an OSPF or IS-IS underlay on a lab fabric, then confirm loopback reachability across all leaf and spine nodes
Explain when to choose a collapsed-core versus spine-leaf design and list the failure-domain tradeoffs of each
Your checkpoint
A one-page architecture diagram plus a written gap analysis covering all six domains with confidence scores
Data Center Switching and Fabric Technologies
Build a vPC domain between two leaf switches and verify peer-link, keepalive, and orphan-port behavior
Compare vPC and EVPN multihoming for dual-homed server attachment and document when each is preferred
Configure VLANs, trunk allowed lists, and spanning-tree guards, then predict and confirm which ports forward
Test vPC failure scenarios (peer-link down, keepalive loss, member link loss) and record resulting forwarding states
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting log of three vPC failure scenarios with observed states and the commands used to confirm each
Data Center Switching and Fabric Technologies & Data Center Routing and Overlay Networking
Configure a VXLAN EVPN fabric with BGP EVPN as the control plane and verify Type-2 and Type-3 route advertisement
Trace a MAC-to-route path for a locally learned host and confirm the corresponding EVPN route on a remote leaf
Compare centralized versus distributed anycast gateway and configure distributed anycast gateway on the lab fabric
Verify data-plane encapsulation by inspecting VXLAN headers and confirming VNI-to-VLAN mappings
Your checkpoint
A working two-leaf, two-spine EVPN fabric with hosts communicating across VNIs, documented with show-command output proving route and data-plane state
Data Center Routing and Overlay Networking & Data Center Architecture and Deployment
Configure EVPN route types 5 and verify prefix advertisement between VRFs across the fabric
Design and implement multi-site EVPN with a border gateway and document the control-plane and data-plane paths
Compare EVPN multihoming and vPC for a given server requirement and justify the choice in writing
Validate underlay and overlay convergence by shutting a spine link and timing reconvergence
Your checkpoint
A multi-site or inter-VRF design document with verification output and measured convergence timings
Data Center Security and Network Services
Configure port security, DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and storm control on access ports and verify each blocks the intended traffic
Configure a stateful firewall or security policy between VRFs and confirm permitted versus denied flows
Implement CoPP and control-plane protection, then verify which exception traffic is policed
Document a segmentation strategy that maps tenants to VRFs and VLANs with explicit policy boundaries
Your checkpoint
A security configuration checklist with pass/fail evidence for each control tested in the lab
Data Center Automation and Orchestration
Write a repeatable configuration template or script that provisions a new leaf into the fabric
Automate retrieval of fabric state and export it to a structured format for comparison
Use a configuration-management or telemetry tool to detect drift between intended and running configuration
Version-control your automation artifacts with meaningful commits and a documented rollback path
Your checkpoint
A working automation script or template that adds a leaf and produces a diff report, stored in a version-controlled repository
Data Center Monitoring, Troubleshooting, and Operations & Data Center Switching and Fabric Technologies
Build a troubleshooting decision tree for EVPN route not appearing, traffic not forwarding, and vPC inconsistency symptoms
Capture and analyze streaming telemetry or SNMP data to identify a degraded link or interface error trend
Inject three faults into the lab fabric and resolve each within a self-imposed time limit
Document the exact commands and log locations you would use for each fault class
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting playbook covering at least five fault classes with commands, expected output, and resolution steps
Data Center Architecture and Deployment & Data Center Switching and Fabric Technologies & Data Center Routing and Overlay Networking & Data Center Security and Network Services & Data Center Automation and Orchestration & Data Center Monitoring, Troubleshooting, and Operations
Re-score each domain against your week-1 confidence baseline and identify remaining weak areas
Complete timed practice scenarios that combine switching, routing, security, and automation tasks
Re-read your gap analysis and playbook, correcting any inaccurate or outdated notes
Write a one-page pre-exam summary of the highest-risk topics and last-minute verification commands
Your checkpoint
A final readiness report with updated domain scores, remaining gaps, and a one-page pre-exam summary sheet
Milestones
Week 2: You can build a vPC pair from scratch and explain forwarding behavior when the peer-link fails, without referring to notes
Week 4: Hosts on different VNIs and VRFs communicate across a multi-site or inter-VRF EVPN fabric, proven by route and ping output
Week 6: A new leaf can be provisioned by automation and drift between intended and running configuration is detected and reported
Week 8: All six domains score at least 4 of 5 on your self-assessment, and you resolve injected faults within your time limits