NetPilot

Juniper Labs on Real vJunos

Run vJunos-router and vJunos-switch in your browser, with an AI agent that builds the lab.

Describe a Junos network in plain English and get a working lab on the images you upload once.

Build a Juniper LabSee the Prompt
Juniper EVPN-VXLAN Lab After vLabs: OSPF + BGP EVPN on Real Junos · Watch on YouTube

See It in Action

One prompt, a Junos EVPN-VXLAN fabric on vJunos, and every layer checked on the CLI.

app.netpilot.io

Copy the Prompt, Get a Junos Fabric

The link opens NetPilot with the prompt already in the box. Change anything, then press send.

EVPN-VXLAN spine and two leaves

Build a Juniper EVPN-VXLAN lab: one spine on vJunos-router and two leaves on vJunos-switch, with a Linux host on each leaf. Use OSPF area 0 as the underlay between the loopbacks, iBGP in AS 65000 with the spine as route reflector for the EVPN overlay, and map VLAN 10 to VXLAN VNI 10010 on both leaves. Put host1 at 192.168.10.11/24 and host2 at 192.168.10.12/24 in VLAN 10. Deploy it, wait for every node to boot, then prove it: OSPF neighbors on the spine, BGP EVPN sessions, the remote VTEP on each leaf, the host MACs in the EVPN database, and a ping from host1 to host2.

Open this prompt in NetPilotRead the tutorialPrompt on GitHub

What NetPilot Adds to a Juniper Lab

The same vJunos images you can run anywhere, with the host and the first draft of the config handled for you.

No server to run

A managed cloud lab VM with room for vJunos. Open a browser and start.

Running vJunos yourself

A Linux host with KVM, 4 vCPU and 5 GiB per node, that you build and maintain.

Junos configs written for you

Describe the fabric. The agent writes the Junos configs, deploys them and checks every layer.

Running vJunos yourself

You write each hierarchy and the topology file by hand.

The real Junos CLI

A terminal on every node, running real Junos.

Running vJunos yourself

A console or SSH on every node, running real Junos.

More than Juniper

Put vJunos next to other network OSes from one prompt, 17+ and growing.

Running vJunos yourself

Source and import each vendor image yourself.

Juniper Labs You Can Build

Each one runs on real Junos, built by the agent and checked by you.

EVPN-VXLAN fabric

A vJunos-router spine as route reflector, vJunos-switch leaves, VLANs mapped to VNIs and a ping across VXLAN.

Junos OSPF

Areas, point-to-point links, passive loopbacks and route preference on the real Junos CLI.

Junos BGP

iBGP with route reflectors, eBGP between AS numbers, and routing policy with export and import.

JNCIA practice

Commit, compare, rollback, static routes, firewall filters and commit confirmed on vJunos-router.

Multi-vendor EVPN interop

Junos leaves next to another vendor's switches, to find the route target and type-2 mismatches.

Fast routing labs on cRPD

The containerized Junos routing daemon, for OSPF and BGP labs that start in seconds.

Juniper Lab Options Compared

Four honest ways to get hands on Junos. Pick by who runs the host and who writes the config.

Status
NetPilot
Available
Juniper vLabs
Juniper is retiring it (set October 31)
EVE-NG or GNS3
Available
containerlab yourself
Available
Where it runs
NetPilot
Browser, your cloud lab VM
Juniper vLabs
Browser, Juniper's platform
EVE-NG or GNS3
Your server or PC
containerlab yourself
Your Linux host with KVM
Your own topology
NetPilot
From a prompt or your own files
Juniper vLabs
Preset topologies
EVE-NG or GNS3
Drag and drop
containerlab yourself
Topology file
Image step
NetPilot
Upload vJunos once
Juniper vLabs
None
EVE-NG or GNS3
Import vJunos
containerlab yourself
Build vJunos with vrnetlab
Who writes the config
NetPilot
The agent, or you on the CLI
Juniper vLabs
You
EVE-NG or GNS3
You
containerlab yourself
You, in versioned files
Offline use
NetPilot
Internet for cloud labs
Juniper vLabs
No
EVE-NG or GNS3
Yes
containerlab yourself
Yes
Cost
NetPilot
Paid plan for vJunos
Juniper vLabs
Free
EVE-NG or GNS3
Free tiers, your hardware
containerlab yourself
Free and open source, your host

Bottom line

Pick EVE-NG, GNS3 or containerlab when you need:

  • •Labs fully offline on hardware you own
  • •A free setup when you already have a KVM host
  • •Topology files in your own Git repo and CI

Pick NetPilot when you need:

  • •A Junos lab with no server of your own
  • •Junos configs written and checked by the agent
  • •Juniper next to other vendors in one prompt

Verdict:For a free lab on a server you already run, use vJunos with containerlab. For a working Junos fabric from any browser, NetPilot runs the host and writes the first draft, and you verify on the real CLI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about running a Juniper lab online

Juniper is retiring vLabs. Its banner reads: Juniper vLabs, will be retired on October 31. After this date, you will no longer be able to access vLabs on our platform. The free vJunos-router and vJunos-switch images remain, and NetPilot runs them on a hosted lab VM so you keep a Junos lab with no server of your own.
NetPilot runs real Junos, not a simulation: vJunos-router and vJunos-switch are Juniper's own virtual Junos images, modeled on the MX and EX9214, running on a cloud lab VM you reach from a browser. Every node gives you the real Junos CLI with commit, rollback and the show commands you use on hardware.
Yes. Juniper offers vJunos-router and vJunos-switch at no cost for non-production test use. You download them from Juniper, accept the license there, and upload each one once under Images. NetPilot builds the image and every later lab uses it.
Give the switches a little time after the deploy. The agent waits until every line card reads Online, then runs the checks, so you come back to a fabric that is already verified.
vJunos-router, vJunos-switch and cRPD, each with the image you bring (BYOI). vJunos needs a Large lab VM with 16 vCPU, and each node takes 4 vCPU and 5 GiB. cRPD is a containerized routing daemon that starts in seconds, for routing protocol labs. Juniper vMX and other custom images are built for you.
Yes. One prompt built a vJunos-router spine and two vJunos-switch leaves with an OSPF underlay, a BGP EVPN overlay and VLAN 10 on VNI 10010. The agent verified OSPF Full, two BGP EVPN sessions Established, the remote VTEP on each leaf and a ping across VXLAN with 0% loss.
Yes. A NetPilot lab can put vJunos next to Linux hosts, FRR, Nokia SR Linux and images you bring, such as Cisco IOL or Arista cEOS. 17+ network OSes and growing are on the supported devices list, so you can test BGP or EVPN between Junos and other vendors.

Explore More

Juniper EVPN-VXLAN Lab

OSPF, BGP EVPN and VXLAN on vJunos, each layer checked on the CLI.

Juniper vLabs Alternatives

Six ways to keep a Junos lab after vLabs, compared.

Run vJunos in containerlab

The image build and six traps.

JNCIA Practice Lab

Seven Junos exercises mapped to the JN0-106 objectives.

Debugging Cisco-Juniper EVPN Interop

The three bugs that break mixed EVPN fabrics.

Supported Devices

Every network OS you can run next to Junos.

Network Lab Online

Real multi-vendor labs in your browser, no install.

Juniper, Junos and vJunos are trademarks of their owner. NetPilot is not affiliated with Juniper Networks. The lab files from our tutorials are public in the juniper-labs repository.

Your Next Juniper Lab, in the Browser

Describe the network. The agent writes the Junos configs, deploys real vJunos nodes, and you verify on the CLI.

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