Juniper Junos OS: the essentials for network engineers
Junos OS is Juniper Networks' proprietary operating system, used across all its platforms (EX, QFX, MX, SRX, PTX, ACX). It is renowned for its stability, commit-based model, YAML-like hierarchy and powerful automation capabilities (NETCONF, PyEZ). Guide to Junos essentials for 2026.
CLI modes
- Operational mode (>): show, ping, traceroute and monitor commands
- Configuration mode (#): edit the configuration using configure or edit
- configure exclusive: lock the configuration to prevent conflicts
- configure private: private branch with an atomic commit
Basic configuration
- set system host-name SW-PARIS-01
- set system root-authentication plain-text-password
- set system services ssh root-login deny
- set system login user admin class super-user authentication plain-text-password
- set system ntp server 192.0.2.1
- commit check: validate without applying
- commit confirmed 10: commit with automatic rollback if not confirmed
VLANs and interfaces
- set vlans DATA vlan-id 10
- set interfaces ge-0/0/1 unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode access
- set interfaces ge-0/0/1 unit 0 family ethernet-switching vlan members DATA
- set interfaces ge-0/0/24 unit 0 family ethernet-switching port-mode trunk
- set interfaces ge-0/0/24 unit 0 family ethernet-switching vlan members all
- set interfaces irb unit 10 family inet address 192.168.10.1/24: L3 SVI
Routing
- set routing-options static route 0.0.0.0/0 next-hop 192.168.1.254
- set protocols ospf area 0 interface ge-0/0/24
- set protocols bgp group EXT neighbor 10.0.0.2 peer-as 65002
- show route: routing table
- show route protocol bgp: BGP routes
Firewall filters (ACLs)
- set firewall family inet filter BLOCK-TELNET term 1 from protocol tcp destination-port 23 then discard
- set firewall family inet filter BLOCK-TELNET term 2 then accept
- set interfaces ge-0/0/1 unit 0 family inet filter input BLOCK-TELNET
Virtual Chassis (Juniper stacking)
- request virtual-chassis mode network-port: enable VC uplink ports
- set virtual-chassis member 1 mastership-priority 255
- set virtual-chassis member 2 mastership-priority 254
- show virtual-chassis: stack status
Automation and APIs
- NETCONF over SSH 830: set system services netconf ssh
- PyEZ: Juniper Python library
- Ansible modules: juniper.junos collection
- Terraform provider: Juniper Junos
- Mist API: REST cloud orchestration
Advanced rollback and commit
- show system rollback compare 0 1: diff between 2 versions
- rollback 5 ; commit: revert to the 5th previous configuration
- load replace terminal: replace the configuration from pasted input
- load merge: merge configurations
Junos vs Cisco IOS: key differences
- Commit-based vs immediate: Junos buffers changes, while IOS applies them directly
- Hierarchical set/delete commands vs configuration blocks
- Native atomic rollback vs manual backup on IOS
- Interface naming: ge-0/0/1 (Gigabit Ethernet slot 0 PIC 0 port 1) vs Gi1/0/1
- No shutdown is implicit by default on Juniper
- Junos commonly remains stable for 3-5 years, while IOS receives more frequent monthly updates
Order from OPTINOC
All Juniper equipment (EX, QFX, MX, SRX) supplied brand-new and genuine with Junos Care support. Free Junos essentials training for OPTINOC customers. Multi-site quote within 48 hours.
