JN0-104 · ● Active · Associate · Juniper Networks (HPE)
Status Note (May 2026): JN0-104 and JN0-105 may both be in circulation. Verify current exam code at Juniper Certification before registering. This profile uses JN0-104 per initial specification; JN0-105 data structures are identical.
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $100–$200 USD; free pathway via Juniper Open Learning (JOL) voucher |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Questions | 65 (approximately 50 scored, 15 unscored) |
| Passing | ~70% scaled score (variable by exam difficulty) |
| Format | Multiple choice + multiple response |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE (online proctoring only if using voucher; testing centers if paying full price) |
| Languages | English (primary); verify for other regions |
| Valid | 3 years from passing date |
| Renewal | Retake exam, pass JNCIS (next level), or pursue higher certification in same track |
| Prerequisites | None; entry-level credential |
| Released | Active since 2015; continuously updated (last revision ~2024–2025) |
| Retiring | N/A — core certification, no retirement date announced |
Vendor source — HPE Juniper Certification ↗
Official exam guide — JNCIA-Junos Exam Overview ↗
Exam objectives — Juniper Open Learning Course Blueprint ↗
About
JNCIA-Junos is Juniper Networks' entry-level certification validating foundational knowledge of Junos OS, CLI navigation, network fundamentals, and basic troubleshooting. Released in 2015 as the foundation of the Juniper Networks Certification Program (JNCP) pyramid, it serves network administrators and junior engineers transitioning to Juniper or building core competency in Junos-based devices. Redesigned with the HPE acquisition (July 2025), it remains the gateway certification for all six JNCP tracks (Enterprise Routing, Service Provider, Security, Data Center, Cloud, and Mist AI). No retirement announced; actively maintained.
Domain context — Networking
Enterprise and service provider network infrastructure operations. Juniper specializes in high-performance routing, switching, and security at scale.
Read full deep dive — Juniper Networks Ecosystem →
Topics covered
Drawn from official Juniper exam blueprint and Juniper Open Learning curriculum.
-
Junos OS Fundamentals (15%)
- Control plane vs. forwarding plane architecture
- Routing engine and line card roles
- System software versions and upgrades
- Boot sequences and recovery
-
User Interfaces (10%)
- Command-line interface (CLI) navigation and modes (operational vs. configuration)
- Junos Space GUI (basic overview)
- Configuration commit, rollback, and save mechanisms
-
Network Fundamentals (15%)
- IP addressing (IPv4, IPv6, subnetting)
- Collision domains, broadcast domains
- MAC addresses and switching concepts
- Class of Service (CoS) principles
-
Interface Configuration and Operations (20%)
- Interface types (ge-, xe-, et-)
- Logical interface configuration (units, families)
- Interface operational states (up/down, link-level diagnostics)
- Interface monitoring and statistics
-
Routing Fundamentals (15%)
- Static routing configuration
- Dynamic routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, RIP, IS-IS neighbor establishment)
- Routing table structure and route selection
- Default routes and route aggregation
-
Basic Security Concepts (10%)
- Security zones and policies (firewall filter basics)
- Network Address Translation (NAT) overview
- Stateful firewall concepts
- User authentication basics
-
Operational Monitoring and Maintenance (10%)
- System monitoring (CPU, memory, disk)
- Interface and protocol troubleshooting
- Log analysis and syslog configuration
- SNMP basics for network monitoring
-
Troubleshooting Fundamentals (5%)
- Ping, traceroute, and connectivity diagnostics
- Show command syntax and output interpretation
- Basic packet tracing and filtering
- Common operational issues and resolution
Source: Juniper Open Learning Course Materials ↗
Common skills at Networking · Associate
Shared skill set for entry-level networking professionals — not specific to Juniper.
- IP Routing Fundamentals — Understanding routing tables, path selection, static vs. dynamic routing, and basic BGP/OSPF neighbor adjacency
- Switching and VLAN Configuration — Layer 2 concepts, VLAN tagging, spanning tree, and interface management across vendors
- Network Troubleshooting — Using ping, traceroute, packet captures, and show commands to diagnose connectivity issues
- Interface Management — Configuring physical and logical interfaces, monitoring link state, and interpreting interface counters
- Basic Network Security — Firewall rules, NAT, access control lists (ACLs), and user authentication concepts
- Network Monitoring and Logging — SNMP, syslog, and NetFlow for visibility; interpreting system logs for operational health
Recommended courses at Networking · Associate
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper (Official) | Juniper Open Learning — JNCIA-Junos | Free (6 months access) | ↗ |
| Juniper (Official) | Introduction to Junos (IJUN) — Instructor-Led | $500–$1,000 | ↗ |
| INE | Juniper JNCIA-Junos Associate | $30–$50/month subscription | ↗ |
| CBT Nuggets | Juniper JNCIA-Junos | $99–$199/year | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | Juniper Networks Junos Basics | $299/year | ↗ |
| Udemy | Juniper JNCIA-Junos: Complete Master Course | $10–$50 (frequent sales) | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Start with free Juniper Open Learning (JOL) for 4–6 weeks to assess fit. If voucher pathway succeeds (70% on assessment), exam cost drops to $100–$150. If additional hands-on labs needed, layer INE or CBT Nuggets video courses.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boson | JNCIA-Junos Practice Exam | $40–$60 | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | Juniper JNCIA-Junos Practice Tests | $30–$50 | ↗ |
| Juniper (Official) | Voucher Assessment Test (JOL) | Free (included with JOL enrollment) | ↗ |
| MeasureUp | Juniper Networks JNCIA-Junos (JN0-104) | $99–$129 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day One: Beginner's Guide to Learning Junos | Juniper Networks (various authors) | Juniper Networks | 2020 | N/A (free PDF) | ↗ |
| Juniper MX Series (2nd Edition) | Douglas Richard Hanks Jr., Harry Reynolds, David Roy | O'Reilly Media | 2016 | 978-1491932711 | ↗ |
| JNCIA Study Guide (Unofficial) | Multiple authors | Various (lulu.com, Amazon self-pub) | 2022–2024 | Varies | Check Amazon for "JNCIA-Junos Study Guide" |
| Day One: Junos Automation (Free PDF Series) | Juniper Networks | Juniper Networks | 2019 | N/A | ↗ |
Book rule: No official Juniper vendor study guide exists (unlike Cisco CCNA). Free Day One books cover fundamentals well. Third-party study guides available on Amazon/Lulu but verify publication date aligns with current exam (2024–2025).
Typical job titles at Networking · Associate
Junior Network Engineer · Network Administrator (Juniper focus) · NOC Engineer (Juniper) · Associate Network Engineer · Network Technician (Routing/Switching)
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings listing JNCIA-Junos as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $65K–$90K | ZipRecruiter ↗ · Glassdoor ↗ |
| ZAR | R560K–R780K (approx. USD conversion) | PayScale ZA ↗ · Pnet ↗ |
| GBP | £45K–£65K | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · Hays ↗ |
| EUR | €50K–€75K (DE/NL/FR weighted average) | Glassdoor EU ↗ |
| AUD | A$95K–A$130K | Seek ↗ |
Salary context: JNCIA-Junos holders typically earn $65K–$90K USD in junior network engineer roles at enterprises or service providers. Premium environments (financial services, hyperscalers) skew $85K–$110K. Service provider (telecom) roles average 8–12% higher. Certification itself commands +$10K–$15K over non-certified network technicians.
Salary rule: Regional salary data sourced from active job postings (Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, PayScale, etc.). Where specific JNCIA data unavailable, regional "Junior Network Engineer" roles used as proxy.
Skills validated
Concrete technologies and protocols this exam tests.
- Junos CLI — Navigation, configuration modes, commit/rollback, operational commands
- Junos Device Architecture — Control plane (RE), forwarding plane (PFE), memory hierarchy
- Interface Configuration — Physical (ge-, xe-), logical units, address families (inet, inet6)
- Routing Protocols — OSPF, BGP, RIP, IS-IS neighbor establishment and route propagation
- Static Routing — Default routes, floating static routes, route aggregation
- VLAN and Switching — VLAN configuration, trunk ports, spanning tree concepts
- Basic Firewall Filters — Stateless firewall rules, filter order, action (accept/discard)
- Network Address Translation (NAT) — Source NAT, destination NAT, overload concepts
- Interface Troubleshooting — Using show commands to diagnose carrier loss, flapping, errors
- System Monitoring — CPU, memory, disk usage; syslog configuration; SNMP basics
- Connectivity Diagnostics — Ping, traceroute, DNS resolution, route tracing
Related certifications
- Prerequisite for: JNCIS-ENT (Enterprise) ↗ · JNCIS-SP (Service Provider) ↗ · JNCIS-SEC (Security) ↗ · JNCIS-DC (Data Center) ↗ · JNCIS-Cloud ↗
- Stacks with: Cisco CCNA ↗ (both test IP routing, VLANs, switching; employers often hire CCNA→Juniper pipelines)
- Equivalent at this level: Arista ACE (Associate) — validates data center switching; Cisco CCNA Routing & Switching (broader vendor-neutral knowledge)
- Vendor overview: Juniper Networks Overview
Note: Files marked with {file not yet created} — will be created in subsequent Deep Dive waves.
Sources
- HPE Juniper Certification Main Page
- JNCIA-Junos Exam Overview
- Juniper Open Learning (JOL) Home Page
- Juniper Open Learning FAQ
- Day One: Beginner's Guide to Learning Junos (Free PDF)
- Day One Books Library
- ZipRecruiter: Juniper Network Engineer Salary
- Glassdoor: Juniper Networks Salaries
- Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide
- O'Reilly: Juniper MX Series (2nd Edition)
- INE: Juniper JNCIA-Junos Associate
- CBT Nuggets: Juniper JNCIA Training
- Boson Practice Exams
- Whizlabs Juniper Practice Tests
- Juniper Community Portal
- HPE Closes Juniper Acquisition (Press Release)
Last verified: 2026-05-01
Parent ecosystem: Juniper Networks Ecosystem
Parent domain: Networking Domain
Vendor overview: Juniper Networks Vendor Overview (file not yet created)
Summary
JNCIA-Junos (JN0-104) is Juniper's entry-level certification validating foundational knowledge of Junos OS, CLI operations, network fundamentals, and basic troubleshooting. No prerequisites; open to all learners. Free training pathway via Juniper Open Learning reduces exam cost from $200 to $100–$150 if candidate scores 70%+ on voucher assessment. Typical job outcome: Junior Network Engineer ($65K–$90K USD). Serves as prerequisite for six specialist JNCP tracks (Enterprise, SP, Security, Data Center, Cloud, Mist AI). Active and maintained; no retirement announced. HPE acquisition (July 2025) has not disrupted certification program. High demand in enterprises and service providers upgrading or maintaining Juniper infrastructure.