JNCIE-SP Exam - What to expect??

The actual exam is not really stright forward. You should expect these things to happen during the exam:

1) Slow lab connection (lagging/disconnected)
2) A lot of troubleshooting
3) Configuration connot commit
4) Protocol cannot up
5) Suboptimal route
6) Oscillation route

Don't be stressed!!!

JNCIE-SP Lab with GNS3 + virtual box

During my preparation for JNCIE-SP exam, I'm using GNS3 for daily practice. Not all topics can be simulated with GNS3.

Generally, I'm using GNS3 to practice OSPF, ISIS, BGP and MPLS without any issue. However, some config such as AE, VRRP, 6PE, VPNs, CoS, and Multicast will not works with GNS3. No choice, you have to find actual routers to practice that.

I had upgraded my notebook's RAM to max 8GB. I'm using GNS3 with virtual box image. So far I can run 12 routers simultaneously with good performance. Make sure you bring up the routers one by one to avoid your CPU and RAM overloaded and hang.

Besides that, I'm also setup a physical lab at my office to practice other topics that can't be simulated with GNS3. Just use 2 unit of routers and create virtual router and play around with vlan.

JNCIE-SP bootcamp

Bootcamp is really good for you to get familiar with router configuration and troubleshooting. Some network engineers do not have hands-on experience because of their job scope. Especially those who working in network operation they just using a "show" command in their daily tasks.

I've attended 5 days JNCIE-SP bootcamp and they had provided JUNOSPHERE platform for lab practice. Those topics were covered for bootcamp:
1. Device Infrastructure
2. ISIS Implementation
3. OSFP Implementation
4. ISIS Troubleshooting
5. OSPF Troubleshooting
6. BGP Implementation
7. BGP Troubleshooting
8. Multicast Implementation & Troubleshooting
9. CoS Implementation & Troubleshooting
10. MPLS Implementation & Troubleshooting
11. MPLS VPNs Implementation and Troubleshooting.

Honestly speeking you will not have enough time to complete all the lab in 5 days. However make sure you copy all the base-config from the routers for each lab topics. Later on you can simulate at your own lab.

Before attend the bootcamp, make sure you are 100% covered all the teory and ready for the exam for next 1-3 months. If not, you just wasting money if you are not really prepared. Ask as much as questions to the trainer specifically on the exam questions and answering technic.

Goodluck!!

JNCIE-SP Exam

I had an oppurtunity to sit the JNCIE-SP exam on 2nd January 2014 at Juniper Networks, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was fully sponsered by my company. For me the exam is really tough and you need to have really good troubleshooting skills.

Before that, I've attended JNCIE-SP bootcamp on 3-7 Sept 2012 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The trainer was Ramesh from India.

Basically, you have 8 hours to complete the exam (excluding your lunch time). Passing mark is 73 and you must get at least 1 point for each sections. Example, if you scored 73 marks but failed to collect point in CoS section, means you FAIL the exam.

Last but not least the lab exam was really slow and high latency. I've experienced 3 times lab disconnected. The proctor has given me 25 mins extra time due to lab disconnected.
 
I'll share some of my preparations and tips for the exam in the next posting. To get more infomation about JNCIE-SP exam please refer bolew link.

http://www.juniper.net/us/en/training/certification/resources_jnciesp.html

First@1st

Basically I just want to share my experiences in IT/Telco networking industry. 

I'm network engineer with 8 years working experience (as of  this entry) have been certified with Cisco and Juniper Networks professional level. 

Started my job with Cisco enterprise products such as c2960, c3550, c3750, c4500. Then shift to Juniper Networks products such as Jseries, MX480, M120, M320, T640, T1600, TX Matrix Plus.

I've working experience with local Malaysian company and also Multinational company. Part of my tasks are L2 support, testing/replicate issues, staging, migration, and documentation.