Quick Answer
The answer is the `show configuration | display set` command. This is correct because it outputs the active Junos configuration as a series of individual `set` statements, which are flat, non-hierarchical, and designed to be merged into another device using `load set terminal` or `load merge`. Unlike the default hierarchical `show configuration` output, the `display set` format allows Junos to apply changes incrementally without overwriting existing settings, making it ideal for copying configurations between devices. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this question tests your understanding of configuration management and the difference between `display set` and `display inheritance` or `display xml`. A common trap is confusing `show configuration` alone, which outputs a block format that cannot be merged directly. Remember the memory tip: “Set to merge, show to view”—if you need to merge, always pipe to `display set`.
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of junos os fundamentals. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An engineer needs to copy a configuration from one device to another. Which command should be used to export the current active configuration in a mergeable format?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
show configuration | display inheritance
Why wrong: B shows inherited settings, not mergeable format.
show configuration | display json
Why wrong: D outputs JSON, not mergeable directly.
show configuration | display set
A outputs set commands suitable for merging.
show configuration | save /var/tmp/config.txt
Why wrong: C saves in current format, not necessarily set commands.
Answer choices
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
Option C is correct because the 'show configuration | display set' command outputs the current active configuration as a series of 'set' commands, which can be directly copied and applied to another Junos device using 'load set terminal' or 'load merge'. This format is specifically designed for merging configurations, as it represents the configuration in a flat, non-hierarchical structure that Junos can parse incrementally.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
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
B shows inherited settings, not mergeable format.
show configuration | display json
Why it's wrong here
D outputs JSON, not mergeable directly.
show configuration | display set
Why this is correct
A outputs set commands suitable for merging.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
show configuration | save /var/tmp/config.txt
Why it's wrong here
C saves in current format, not necessarily set commands.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'display set' with 'display inheritance' or 'display json', thinking any output format can be used for merging, but only 'display set' produces a flat, mergeable command sequence that Junos can load directly.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
B shows inherited settings, not mergeable format.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, 'display set' converts the Junos hierarchical configuration (stored as an XML document) into a flat list of 'set' commands that can be applied incrementally using 'load merge terminal' or 'load set'. This is particularly useful when merging partial configurations from one device to another, as each 'set' command is idempotent and can be applied without needing to parse the entire hierarchy. In real-world scenarios, network engineers often use this to copy interface or routing policy configurations between devices while avoiding overwriting unrelated settings.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the JNCIA-JUNOS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Junos OS Fundamentals — This question tests Junos OS Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: show configuration | display set — Option C is correct because the 'show configuration | display set' command outputs the current active configuration as a series of 'set' commands, which can be directly copied and applied to another Junos device using 'load set terminal' or 'load merge'. This format is specifically designed for merging configurations, as it represents the configuration in a flat, non-hierarchical structure that Junos can parse incrementally.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This JNCIA-JUNOS 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-JUNOS exam.
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