JUNIPER NETWORKS  CERTIFICATION FOR ISP PROFESSIONALS

Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq JNPR), a leading provider of Internet hardware and software systems, introduced the Juniper Networks Technical Certification Program (TCP), the first such program tailor-made for Internet professionals in large-scale Internet Service Provider (ISP) environments

Two type of Certification are there

Juniper Certified Internet Specialist (JNCIS) 

Juniper Certified Internet Expert (JNCIE)

Developed through close collaboration with ISP, customers the Juniper Networks TCP is targeted at Internet professionals with in-depth knowledge of Juniper Networks technology, allied to significant hands-on experience in real world environments. Level one, the Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist (CIS), comprises a 90-minute online test, while level two, the Juniper Networks Certified Internet Expert (CIE) involves a two-day practical exam held at Juniper Networks locations.

The Juniper Networks TCP aims to help ISPs identify the professionals within their organizations with the knowledge and skill to implement, operate, and troubleshoot large- scale IP networks effectively. At the same time, Juniper Networks TCP gives Internet Protocol (IP) professionals industry-recognized accreditation as experts in their field.

The Juniper Networks Technical Certification Program focuses on the knowledge and skill that  need to continue to grow and maintain juniper networks at the service levels of customers have come to expect, Being able to clearly identify those individuals, both internal and external, who have these skills is a huge advantage, enabling  to allocate resources more effectively, recruit more smartly and ultimately scale the organization with confidence. 

"The Juniper Networks Certification Program is tailored precisely to the tasks and issues that Internet professionals encounter every day. Being able to identify levels of competence in these areas is key to ensuring that engineers in the field can hit the ground running in a dynamic and challenging environment," a Juniper spokesman say

A Two-tiered Program
The Juniper Networks TCP tests competency through a combination of computer-based proficiency tests as well as hands-on configuration and debugging tests that simulate real-world situations. To become a Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist, participants take a 90-minute computer-based test, comprised of more than 70 multiple-choice questions that test understanding of IP networking technology and Juniper Networks products. Participants must pass this entrance exam before they can move to the Certified Internet Expert level. Test results are available immediately.

The Juniper Networks CIE practical exam is conducted over two eight-hour days at Juniper Networks locations. The exam involves hands-on exercises to determine the participant's ability to configure and debug complex routing scenarios, including testing against live and generated routes and traffic using Juniper Networks equipment. The exam is monitored and videotaped with results available within ten calendar days.

Applications and Availability
The Certified Internet Specialist exam is available worldwide through Prometric Testing Centers at www.2test.com. Candidates should request the Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist Exam, JN0-301.

The Certified Internet Expert exam is currently available at the Juniper Networks Corporate Headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA. Upon successful completion of the CIS exam candidates should contact certification@juniper.net to register for the CIE exam.

Further information is available at www.juniper.net/certification.

Preparation: Books are listed on the Juniper site, You need to understand the standards for technologies discussed and how Juniper implements them. The exam goes beyond basic internetworking concepts and not all questions are Juniper specific. For instance, you may be asked a question that tests your knowledge of BGP confederations that you could answer correctly without ever looking at a Juniper router. You may also get asked a question about routing decisions that requires you know a little about how JUNOS makes routing decisions. Finally, you may get asked a question of how a packet travels through the router, which requires a deeper knowledge of how JUNOS and Juniper hardware interact and function. 

JNCIS is a pretty good balance of standards versus vendor specific knowledge. Meaning that if you are an expert on standards (bgp, ospf, etc) but have not studied any of the JUNOS documentation, you will fail. The reverse is also true. The JNCIS seems to be a fair test that tries to present scenarios based on real-life situations. Keeping in mind that a paper based exam can never truly emulate life! 

I highly recommend that hands-on interaction with a Juniper router is used as part of your studying. As you may know from previous posts, it is difficult to get your hands on a box that is not production. 

Unfortunately, there's no router simulator for Juniper Routers. 
Until the version 3.x of JUNOS, was possible to use any Unix System like FreeBsd or Linux and run a program called Junos Olive. The Juniper engineers used this programs inside the labs to make tests but, with the new features after version 4.x, the Olive is not allowed anymore.

About Juniper Networks
Juniper Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of purpose-built systems that meet the scalability, performance, density, and compatibility requirements of rapidly evolving, optically enabled IP networks. The company's systems provide new IP infrastructure solutions for the world's leading service providers. Juniper Networks service, manufacturing teams, and IP engineers work closely with customers to build and support customer networks. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, please visit the Web site at http://www.juniper.net.

Juniper Networks is a registered trademark of Juniper Networks, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks may be the property of their respective owners.