Forcing Traffic Through a Specific Next-Hop by Setting Static Route Preference
A network must forward traffic to 10.1.1.0/24 through a specific next-hop 192.168.1.1, even if a dynamic route with a lower preference is available. Which configuration will achieve this?
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure a static route to 10.1.1.0/24 with next-hop 192.168.1.1 and preference 5. This works because Junos uses the route preference value to select the best route when multiple protocols know the same destination; a lower preference is more preferred. By setting the static route preference to 5—well below the default OSPF preference of 10 or BGP’s 170—you force traffic through the specified next-hop, effectively overriding the dynamic route with static route preference. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this tests your understanding of route selection logic and the `preference` statement under `edit routing-options static`. A common trap is assuming any static route automatically wins over dynamic ones, but without an explicit lower preference, the dynamic route with a lower default preference (like OSPF’s 10) will still be chosen. Memory tip: think “5 is alive” for static routes—set it to 5 to keep your static route preferred and alive over any dynamic protocol.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse metric with preference (administrative distance) and assume that a lower metric on a dynamic route will make it preferred over a static route, or they mistakenly think a higher preference value on a static route (like 15) still makes it preferred over OSPF (10).
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
✓
Configure a static route to 10.1.1.0/24 with next-hop 192.168.1.1 and preference 5.
A static route can be configured with a preference value lower than any dynamic routing protocol's default preference. In Junos, the default preference for OSPF internal routes is 10, for IS-IS level 1 is 15, for RIP is 100, and for BGP is 170. By setting the static route to 10.1.1.0/24 with next-hop 192.168.1.1 and preference 5, it will have a lower preference value than these defaults. Therefore, even if a dynamic route with a lower preference (i.e., a smaller number but still greater than 5) exists, the static route will be installed in the routing table and used for forwarding, satisfying the requirement to always forward traffic through the specified next-hop.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure the dynamic protocol to export the route with a metric of 1.
Why it's wrong here
Metric is not compared across protocols; preference is used.
- ✓
Configure a static route to 10.1.1.0/24 with next-hop 192.168.1.1 and preference 5.
Why this is correct
Preference 5 is lower than most dynamic defaults, so static will be active.
- ✗
Configure a filter to reject the dynamic route.
Why it's wrong here
Rejecting dynamic routes via a filter would prevent them from entering the routing table, but it does not guarantee that traffic for 10.1.1.0/24 will use the specific next-hop 192.168.1.1. This scenario requires ensuring a static route's precedence over dynamic routes, which is achieved by manipulating route preference. Filters are useful for preventing unwanted routes from being installed, for instance, to block specific prefixes from a routing protocol due to policy or security reasons, where no specific alternative next-hop is mandated.
- ✗
Configure a static route to 10.1.1.0/24 with next-hop 192.168.1.1 and preference 15.
Why it's wrong here
Preference 15 is higher than OSPF's 10, so OSPF would still win.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
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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. Your Juniper router is running OSPF with multiple neighbors. You have a prefix 10.10.10.0/24 that is being learned via OSPF from two different routers: Router A with metric 30 and Router B with metric 20. The OSPF route from Router B is active. You want to ensure that traffic to 10.10.10.0/24 uses the path through Router A instead, even though it has a higher metric. You cannot change the OSPF metric on Router A. Which action should you take?
medium- ✓ A.Use a routing policy to increase the preference of the OSPF route from Router B.
- B.Increase the metric on Router B for that prefix.
- C.Use a routing policy to reject the OSPF route from Router A.
- D.Configure a static route to 10.10.10.0/24 pointing to Router A.
Why A: In JUNOS, route preference (administrative distance) determines which route is installed in the routing table when multiple protocols or sources provide the same prefix. By default, OSPF internal routes have a preference of 10. You can use a routing policy to increase the preference of the OSPF route from Router B (making it less preferred), which will cause the route from Router A (with its default preference of 10) to become active, even though its metric is higher. This approach does not require changing the OSPF metric or removing the route from Router A.
Variation 2. A router has an OSPF route to 10.10.10.0/24 with preference 10 and a static route to the same prefix with preference 5. Which route is active in the routing table?
easy- A.The OSPF route
- ✓ B.The static route
- C.Neither route
- D.Both routes
Why B: In Junos, the active route in the routing table is determined by the route preference (administrative distance). A lower preference value indicates a more trusted route. Here, the static route has a preference of 5, which is lower than the OSPF route's preference of 10, so the static route is preferred and becomes active.
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.