Methods for Configuring Junos OS
Depending on specific device support, you can use the methods shown in Table 1 to configure Junos OS. For more information, see the Juniper Networks Feature Explorer.
Method |
Description |
|---|---|
Command-line interface (CLI) |
Create the configuration for the device using the CLI. You can enter commands from a single command line, and scroll through recently executed commands. |
ASCII file |
Load an ASCII file containing a configuration that you created earlier, either on this system or on another system. You can then activate and run the configuration file, or you can edit it using the CLI and then activate it. |
J-Web graphical user interface (GUI) |
Use the J-Web GUI to configure the device. J-Web enables you to monitor, configure, troubleshoot, and manage the router on a client by means of a Web browser. The J-Web GUI is supported on only certain Juniper Networks devices. For more information, see the Juniper Networks Feature Explorer. |
Junos XML management protocol (API) |
Client applications use the Junos XML management protocol to monitor and configure Juniper Networks devices. The Junos XML management protocol is customized for Junos OS, and operations in the API are equivalent to those in the CLI. |
NETCONF application programming interface (API) |
Client applications use the NETCONF XML management protocol to monitor and configure supported devices. The NETCONF XML management protocol includes features that accommodate the configuration data models of multiple vendors. |
Configuration commit scripts |
Create scripts that run at commit time to enforce custom configuration rules. Commit scripts are written in Python, Stylesheet Language Alternative syntaX (SLAX), or Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT). |
The following sections describe the methods you can use to configure Junos OS:
Junos OS Command-Line Interface
The Junos OS CLI is a straightforward terminal-based command interface. You use Emacs-style keyboard sequences to move around on a command line and scroll through a buffer that contains recently executed commands. You type commands on a single line, and the commands are executed when you press the Enter key. The CLI also provides command help and command completion.
ASCII File
You can load an ASCII file containing a configuration that you created earlier, either on this system or another system. You can then activate and run the configuration file as is, or you can edit it using the CLI and then activate it.
J-Web Package
As an alternative to entering CLI commands, Junos OS supports the J-Web GUI. The J-Web user interface enables you to monitor, configure, troubleshoot, and manage the router on a client by means of a Web browser with Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or HTTP over Secure Sockets Layer (HTTPS) enabled.
The J-Web user interface is an optional, licensed software package (jweb package) on M Series and TSeries routers. The jweb package is not included in jinstall and jbundle software bundles. It must be installed separately. To install the package on M Series and T Series routers, follow the procedure described in the Software Installation and Upgrade Guide.
J-Web supports weak (56-bit) encryption by default. This enables non-US customers to install J-Web and use HTTPS connections for J-Web access. US customers can also install the jcrypto strong encryption package. This package automatically overrides the weak encryption.
Because the J-Web package is bundled separately from other packages, it is possible to have a version mismatch between J-Web and other Junos OS packages you have installed.
To check for a version mismatch, use the show
system alarms CLI command. If the version number does not match
exactly, a system alarm appears.
Junos XML Management Protocol Software
The Junos XML Management Protocol is an XML-based protocol that client applications use to monitor and configure Juniper Networks devices. It uses an XML-based data encoding for the configuration data and remote procedure calls. This API is customized for Junos OS, and operations in the API are equivalent to CLI commands.
NETCONF XML Management Protocol Software
The NETCONF XML management protocol is an XML-based protocol that client applications use to monitor and configure network devices. It uses an XML-based data encoding for the configuration data and remote procedure calls. NETCONF includes features that accommodate the configuration data models of multiple vendors. Juniper Networks provides a set of Perl modules that enable Perl client applications to communicate with the NETCONF server on Junos devices. The Perl modules enable you to develop custom applications for configuring and monitoring Junos devices.
Configuration Commit Scripts
You can create and use scripts that run at commit time to enforce custom configuration rules. If a configuration breaks the custom rules, the script can generate actions that the Junos OS performs. These actions include:
Generating custom error messages
Generating custom warning messages
Generating custom system log messages
Making changes to the configuration
Configuration commit scripts also enable you to create macros, which expand simplified custom aliases for frequently used configuration statements into standard Junos OS configuration statements. Commit scripts are written in Python, Stylesheet Language Alternative syntaX (SLAX), or Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT).