JN0-106 Routing Fundamentals Practice Question
An administrator executes 'show route 192.168.1.0/24' and sees no output, but the route is configured. Which command should be used to display the reason the route is not active?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume 'show route protocol static' will show all static routes, but they forget that hidden routes are excluded from standard protocol-specific outputs, leading them to overlook the dedicated 'show route hidden' command.
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
✓
show route hidden
The 'show route hidden' command displays routes that are present in the routing table but are not active due to reasons such as a next-hop being unreachable, a routing policy rejecting the route, or a route preference conflict. When a route is configured but not shown in the standard 'show route' output, it is likely hidden, and this command reveals the specific reason (e.g., 'next-hop unreachable' or 'rejected by policy').
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 route hidden
Why this is correct
The `show route hidden` command is the definitive way to view routes that the routing table has marked as unusable, along with the specific reason for their hidden status. Junos maintains hidden routes in the routing table (e.g., inet.0) but excludes them from active forwarding and from normal `show route` output. This command directly reveals those routes and the `hidden` reason field, enabling targeted diagnosis. It is the only command listed that fully exposes hidden routes without additional filters.
- ✗
show log messages
Why it's wrong here
The `show log messages` command outputs the system logging buffer or file, which records operational messages such as interface events, policy changes, or daemon alerts. While some log entries might mention a route being hidden, there is no structured or complete view of hidden routes, and logs are often rotated or rate-limited. This is not a direct diagnostic tool for inspecting the routing table's hidden routes, unlike `show route hidden`.
- ✗
show route protocol static
Why it's wrong here
The `show route protocol static` command lists only static routes that are currently active and installed in the routing table. A static route can become hidden—for example, if its next hop is unreachable or it is rejected by import policy—and such routes are omitted from this output by default. Without appending `hidden` (e.g., `show route protocol static hidden`), this command fails to display hidden static routes and provides no hint of their hidden status. It is therefore not a reliable substitute for `show route hidden`.
- ✗
show route forwarding-table
Why it's wrong here
The `show route forwarding-table` command displays the kernel forwarding table (e.g., inet.0's active routes) that the Packet Forwarding Engine actually uses for packet forwarding. Hidden routes, by definition, are not eligible for forwarding and are never installed in the forwarding table, regardless of their protocol or reason. This command shows the result of route selection, not the full routing table including hidden entries, so it cannot reveal hidden routes.
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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.