JN0-106 User Interfaces Practice Question
A technician needs to display the contents of a configuration file stored on the device's hard disk. Which operational mode command should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse 'show configuration' with viewing a file on disk, but 'show configuration' only shows the configuration from the system's operational database, not the raw file contents stored on the hard disk.
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
✓
file show
The 'file show' command in Junos operational mode is used to display the contents of a file stored on the device's hard disk, such as a configuration file. Unlike 'show configuration', which displays the active candidate or committed configuration, 'file show' reads the raw file from the filesystem, making it the correct choice for viewing a stored configuration file.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
show configuration
Why it's wrong here
The operational command `show configuration` (or `show configuration | display set`) always renders the current Junos configuration database — either the active configuration or the candidate configuration while in configure mode — not the contents of an arbitrary file on disk. Junos configuration is managed as a structured database, so even though it may originate from a file like /config/juniper.conf, this command does not expose the raw file contents. Therefore, it cannot be used to display a standalone configuration file the technician wants to inspect.
- ✓
file show
Why this is correct
The `file show <filename>` operational command is the correct way to display the contents of a file from the Junos file system, including configuration backup files such as /config/juniper.conf.0. It reads the file directly from disk and prints it to the terminal, making it ideal for inspecting configuration files, logs, or any other text file. For a technician seeking to see the actual contents of a configuration file, this is the precise command to use.
- ✗
file list
Why it's wrong here
The `file list <path>` operational command lists the names, sizes, and timestamps of files and directories in a given path, such as `file list /config` to see available configuration backups. It does not open or display any file content — it merely shows metadata about what files exist. Once the technician identifies the file with `file list`, they would still need `file show` to view its contents.
- ✗
view file
Why it's wrong here
The phrase `view file` is not a valid Junos CLI command in either operational or configuration mode; Junos does not have a `view` command for displaying file contents. A user might encounter `view` in other systems, but attempting `view file <filename>` on Junos would produce a syntax or command-not-found error. The correct operational equivalent is `file show <filename>`.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This JN0-106 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 JN0-106 exam.