JNCIS-DC study plan

JNCIS-DC · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Data Center (domain details not enumerated in source; weights split evenly pending review)

Map the JNCIS-DC blueprint into a personal topic checklist covering Junos data center fundamentals, EVPN-VXLAN, and automation, and rate your current confidence on each item from 1 to 5
Set up a lab environment using vLabs, vMX, or a home virtual topology with at least two leaf devices and one spine device running Junos
Configure basic Junos interfaces, VLANs, and IRB units on the lab leaves and verify connectivity with ping and show commands
Practice committing with commit confirmed and rolling back configuration to build safe change habits

A written blueprint checklist with confidence ratings plus a working three-device Junos lab saved as a configuration snapshot

Week 2

Explain the purpose of a VXLAN tunnel and how VTEPs encapsulate Layer 2 frames in UDP
Configure a static point-to-point VXLAN tunnel between two leaf devices and confirm MAC learning works
Describe the role of the underlay versus the overlay and identify which protocols carry each
Capture VXLAN traffic in the lab and decode the outer and inner headers

A packet capture write-up showing a VXLAN-encapsulated frame with each header field labeled

Week 3

Configure OSPF or IS-IS as the underlay routing protocol across spine and leaf nodes and verify loopback reachability
Configure BGP peering between spine and leaf devices using loopback addresses
Tune ECMP load balancing and verify multiple next hops appear in the routing table
Document the underlay addressing plan and routing design in your own notes

An underlay design document with diagrams and show-command output proving loopback-to-loopback reachability across all devices

Week 4

Configure EVPN signaling over BGP and verify Type 2 and Type 3 routes appear in the EVPN database
Extend a VLAN across two leaves using EVPN-VXLAN and confirm hosts on different leaves can communicate
Explain the difference between Type 2, Type 3, and Type 5 EVPN routes and when each is used
Troubleshoot a deliberately broken EVPN configuration by reading the route tables

A working EVPN-VXLAN stretch across two leaves with a screenshot-style transcript of the EVPN database and a host-to-host ping

Week 5

Configure an EVPN-VXLAN centrally routed bridging or edge-routed bridging design and route between two VLANs
Configure anycast gateway so hosts on different leaves share a default gateway address
Verify symmetric and asymmetric IRB behavior and explain the tradeoffs
Test failure by shutting a spine link and confirm traffic reconverges

A routed EVPN-VXLAN design summary comparing CRB and ERB with test results from your failover exercise

Week 6

Describe how Junos devices integrate with orchestration and automation tools for data center provisioning
Build a small YAML or JSON intent file and push configuration to the lab using a Junos automation mechanism such as NETCONF, PyEZ, or Junos PyEZ-based scripts
Configure and verify a routing policy that filters EVPN or BGP routes
Practice using operational and configuration show commands to audit the full fabric state

A working automation script or playbook that configures at least one VLAN across the fabric, checked into version control

Week 7

A scored practice set with a written remediation note for every missed question

Week 8

A final mock exam score above your target plus a one-page cheat sheet of commands and design concepts

Week 2: Lab fabric is running and you can explain and demonstrate VXLAN encapsulation end to end

Week 4: Underlay routing and EVPN signaling are working, and you can read the EVPN route types from show output

Week 6: You have deployed a routed EVPN-VXLAN design with anycast gateway and automated at least one change

Week 8: Timed mock exam score meets your target and every blueprint item is rated confidence 4 or higher