Using display set to View Junos Configuration
Which TWO commands can be used to view the current running configuration?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is the show configuration command, as it directly displays the current running configuration in its native hierarchical format. When you need a flat, line-by-line representation, you apply the display set pipe modifier, so show configuration | display set outputs every configuration statement as a single set command, making it easier to copy and paste into scripts or compare changes line by line. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this tests your understanding that both commands reveal the same active configuration, just in different presentation styles—a common trap is assuming only one format is valid. Remember that show configuration alone gives you the tree-like structure, while adding the display set pipe modifier flattens it into executable statements. A helpful memory tip: think of “set” as the action you would type to build the config, so the pipe modifier converts the view into that actionable format.
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse pipe modifiers like 'display inheritance' or 'compare' as valid ways to view the current configuration, when in fact they either add inherited data or compare revisions, not display the running config as-is.
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 configuration | display set
The 'show configuration | display set' command outputs the current active configuration in 'set' format, which is a flat, line-by-line representation of configuration statements. Option D is correct because 'show configuration' without any pipe modifier displays the entire running configuration in its native hierarchical format. Both commands allow you to view the current running configuration, just in different presentation styles.
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 | display inheritance
Why it's wrong here
Shows inherited configuration values, not the full configuration.
- ✓
show configuration | display set
Why this is correct
Displays the configuration as a series of set commands.
- ✗
show configuration | match
Why it's wrong here
Filters configuration output, but the base command is still 'show configuration'.
- ✓
show configuration
Why this is correct
The `show configuration` command is a standard operational mode command within Junos OS. It precisely displays the active configuration currently applied and running on the device. This command directly fulfils the question's requirement to view the current running configuration, providing a comprehensive output of all operational settings. It is one of the primary methods for inspecting the device's live state.
- ✗
show configuration | compare
Why it's wrong here
Shows differences between candidate and active configuration, not the full configuration.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on JN0-106
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. An engineer runs the command but sees no output. What is the most likely reason?
hard- A.The pipe (|) is not supported with 'display set'.
- ✓ B.The interface ge-0/0/0 is not configured.
- C.The interface name is misspelled.
- D.The command syntax is incorrect.
Why B: The command 'show configuration | display set' outputs the configuration in a set-based format. If there is no output, it means the configuration is empty or the specified interface does not exist. In this case, the interface ge-0/0/0 is not configured, so the filter 'display set' returns no lines for that interface. Option B is correct because an unconfigured interface yields no configuration output.
Variation 2. A network engineer is in configuration mode and wants to see the configuration in a format that can be directly pasted into another router to reproduce the configuration. Which output modifier should they use?
medium- A.| display inheritance
- ✓ B.| display set
- C.| display xml
- D.| count
Why B: The '| display set' output modifier converts the current Junos configuration into a series of 'set' commands. This format is directly pasteable into another router's CLI to reproduce the exact configuration, making it ideal for configuration migration or backup restoration.
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.