The answer is the operational mode command show configuration. This command is correct because it retrieves the current active configuration directly from the /config/juniper.conf file, displaying the committed configuration that the Junos device is actively running, rather than any uncommitted candidate changes. On the Juniper Networks Certified Associate Junos JNCIA-Junos exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinction between operational and configuration modes, as well as the difference between viewing the active configuration versus the candidate configuration. A common trap is confusing show configuration with show | compare, which only shows uncommitted changes, or with the configuration mode command show, which displays the candidate configuration. To remember this, think of the Junos commit model: the active configuration is what is “shown” after a commit, so the operational mode command show configuration always reflects the live, running state of the device.
JNCIA-JUNOS Junos OS Fundamentals Practice Question
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.
A junior administrator wants to view the current active configuration on a Juniper device. Which operational mode command should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
show configuration
The 'show configuration' command displays the current active configuration in the candidate configuration format, which is the configuration that is currently committed and running on the Juniper device. Option D is correct because it directly retrieves the active configuration from the /config/juniper.conf file, which is the authoritative source for the operational configuration.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 set
Why it's wrong here
This shows the candidate configuration; to show active, you must commit first or use 'show configuration' in operational mode.
✗
show system services
Why it's wrong here
This shows system service status, not the configuration.
✗
show interfaces terse
Why it's wrong here
This command shows interface status, not the full configuration.
✓
show configuration
Why this is correct
This command displays the current active configuration in hierarchy format.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the 'show configuration' command with the 'show | display set' pipe modifier, thinking the latter is a separate command to view the active configuration, when in fact it is just an output formatting option.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This shows the candidate configuration; to show active, you must commit first or use 'show configuration' in operational mode.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Juniper devices store the active configuration in the /config/juniper.conf file, which is loaded into the kernel at boot time. The 'show configuration' command reads this file and outputs it in hierarchical CLI format, while the 'show configuration | display set' converts it to a flat set of commands; understanding this distinction is critical for automation and troubleshooting, as the set format is often used for scripting but the hierarchical format is the native representation.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Junos OS Fundamentals — This question tests Junos OS Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: show configuration — The 'show configuration' command displays the current active configuration in the candidate configuration format, which is the configuration that is currently committed and running on the Juniper device. Option D is correct because it directly retrieves the active configuration from the /config/juniper.conf file, which is the authoritative source for the operational configuration.
What should I do if I get this JNCIA-JUNOS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Variation 1. An engineer needs to view the current active configuration on a Juniper device. Which command will display the configuration that is currently running?
easy
A.show chassis hardware
B.show interfaces terse
✓ C.show configuration
D.show system commit
Why C: The 'show configuration' command displays the current active configuration that is committed and running on a Juniper device. Unlike Cisco's 'show running-config', Junos uses a commit model where the candidate configuration is activated only after a 'commit' operation, and 'show configuration' shows that committed, active configuration.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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