JN0-106 User Interfaces Practice Question
Exhibit
interfaces {
ge-0/0/0 {
description "Link to Core-1";
unit 0 {
family inet {
address 10.0.0.1/30;
}
}
}
}Refer to the exhibit. An administrator sees the following configuration output. What is the purpose of the 'description' statement in this context?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse the 'description' statement with the SNMP ifAlias or administrative comments, assuming they serve the same purpose as in other vendors' syntax, but Junos explicitly separates these functions.
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
✓
It sets the interface description visible in 'show interfaces description'.
In Junos, the 'description' statement under an interface configuration sets a text string that is displayed in the output of 'show interfaces description'. This is the standard way to provide a human-readable label for the interface, such as 'Link to Core Router A'. It does not affect SNMP, administrative comments, or syslog tags.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It sets the SNMP ifAlias to the interface's MAC address.
Why it's wrong here
The `description` statement does not alter the SNMP ifAlias object to contain the interface's MAC address; that object is populated with whatever free-form text you configure as the description. In Junos, the MAC address is represented by the ifPhysAddress object in SNMP and is derived from the hardware, not from configuration. Therefore, this option misidentifies the purpose of the description statement, which is to provide a human-readable label, not to report hardware addressing information.
- ✗
It sets the administrative comment visible in the config.
Why it's wrong here
While a description appears inline in the configuration, it is not merely an administrative comment like a `/* ... */` note. Unlike comments, which are stripped from the active configuration and have no operational effect, the `description` statement is a real configuration object that is reflected in `show interfaces description` and exported via SNMP as ifAlias. Treating it as a passive comment ignores its role in network management and monitoring workflows.
- ✓
It sets the interface description visible in 'show interfaces description'.
Why this is correct
The `description` statement sets a free-form text label for an interface, and that label is precisely what appears under the Description column when you issue `show interfaces description`. This operational command is specifically designed to display these strings, making them useful for documenting purpose, circuit ID, or peer information without needing to view the full interface configuration. Additionally, the same value is propagated to the SNMP ifAlias object, allowing external NMS tools to read it.
- ✗
It sets the interface's syslog tag.
Why it's wrong here
Syslog tags are not part of interface description configuration at all; they are defined under the `system syslog` hierarchy, often with `user.info` or specific facility and severity levels. An interface description has no influence on how log messages are generated or tagged, and syslog output does not incorporate interface descriptions unless you manually reference them in a log string. This option invents an association that does not exist in Junos, confusing a local administrative label with a global logging mechanism.
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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.