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vJunos-router Overview

SUMMARY This topic provides an overview, key features supported, benefits, and limitations of the vJunos-router.

Overview

The vJunos-router is a virtual version of a Juniper router that runs the Junos OS. You can install a vJunos-router as a virtual machine (VM) on an x86 server.

You can configure and manage the vJunos-router in the same way as you manage a physical router.

The vJunos-router is a single virtual machine (VM) that you can use only in labs and not in the production environment. The vJunos-router is built using vMX as a reference Juniper router and supports a single Routing Engine and single Flexible PIC Concentrator (FPC).

The vJunos-router supports a bandwidth of up to 100 Mbps aggregated over all the interfaces.

Note:

You don't have to purchase a bandwidth license for using the vJunos-router. Ignore the license check messages.

Instead of using hardware routers, you can use the vJunos-router to start the Junos software for testing the network configurations and protocols.

vJunos-router Installation Overview

You can install the software components of the vJunos-router on an industry-standard x86 server running a Linux KVM hypervisor (Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, 22.04 or Debian 11 Bullseye).

On servers running the KVM hypervisor, you can also run applicable third-party software. You can install multiple vJunos-router instances on a single server.

Key Features Supported

This topic provides you the list and details of the key features that are supported and validated on vJunos-router. For details on configuration of these features, see the feature guides at: User Guides.

The vJunos-router supports the following key features:

  • Supports up to 96 router interfaces.

  • Feature consistency with the physical MX Series platforms.

  • Virtual route reflection

  • Virtual broadband network gateway (BNG) capabilities, including:

    • L2TP network server/Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (LNS/L2TP)

    • Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE)

    • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCPv4/DHCPv6)

    • Pseudowire Headend Termination (PWHT) support

    • Static and dynamic (RADIUS) subscriber interface support

Benefits and Uses

The benefits and use cases of the vJunos-router on standard x86 servers are as follows:

  • Reduced capital expenditure (CapEx) on lab—The vJunos-router is available for free to build test labs reducing costs associated with physical routers.

  • Reduced deployment time—You can use the vJunos-router to build and to test topologies virtually without building expensive physical labs. Virtual labs can be built instantly. As a result, you can reduce costs and delays associated with deployments on the physical hardware.

  • Eliminate need and time for lab hardware—The vJunos-router helps you eliminate waiting time for lab hardware to arrive after procurement. vJunos-router is available for free and can be downloaded instantly.

  • Education and training—Allows you to build labs for learning and education services for your employees.

  • Proof of concept and validation testing—You can validate various data center switching topologies, pre-build configurations examples, and get automation ready.

Limitations

The vJunos-router has the following limitations:

  • Has a single Routing Engine and single FPC architecture.

  • In-service software upgrade (ISSU) is not supported.

  • Attachment or detachment of interfaces when it is running is not supported.

  • SR-IOV for the vJunos-router use cases and throughput is not supported.

  • Due to its nested architecture, the vJunos-router cannot be used in any deployments that launch the instances from within a VM.

  • Supports a maximum bandwidth of 100 Mbps over all the interfaces.

  • You cannot upgrade the Junos OS on a running system. Instead, you must deploy a new instance with the new software.

Related Documentation