JNCIA-DevOps NETCONF And XML API Practice Question
A network engineer is establishing a NETCONF session with a Junos device and needs to lock the candidate configuration to prevent concurrent modifications by other administrators. Which NETCONF operation should be executed?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
<lock><target><candidate/></target></lock>
The <lock> operation allows a client to lock the configuration datastore of a device to prevent unauthorized or conflicting changes during a transaction.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
<lock><target><candidate/></target></lock>
Why this is correct
This is the correct XML RPC structure to lock the candidate configuration datastore.
- ✗
<lock-config><database>candidate</database></lock-config>
Why it's wrong here
<lock-config> is not a valid NETCONF protocol operation defined in RFC 6241.
- ✗
<get-config><source><candidate/></source><lock/></get-config>
Why it's wrong here
Locking cannot be performed as an attribute or tag inside a <get-config> request.
- ✗
<edit-config><target><candidate/></target><operation>lock</operation></edit-config>
Why it's wrong here
The lock operation is a standalone top-level NETCONF protocol RPC, not a modifier within <edit-config>.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Juniper Networks exam blueprint
This JNCIA-DevOps practice question is part of Courseiva's free Juniper Networks certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the JNCIA-DevOps exam.