The correct configuration approach is to set the next-hop as the interface name. When you configure a static route with an interface next-hop, such as ge-0/0/0, the route is qualified by the operational state of that interface; if the interface goes down, the route is automatically withdrawn from the routing table. This behavior is distinct from using an IP address as the next-hop, which leaves the route in the table as long as the address remains reachable via any path. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Junos ties route reachability to interface state, a common trap being that candidates assume a next-hop IP address also depends on the directly connected interface. A helpful memory tip: think of the interface as a physical gate—if the gate closes, the route cannot exit, so Junos removes it automatically.
JNCIA-JUNOS Routing Fundamentals Practice Question
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of routing fundamentals. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 network engineer configures a static route to a remote network. They want the route to be automatically removed from the routing table if the directly connected interface used to reach the next hop fails. Which configuration approach 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
✓
Configure the next-hop as the interface name.
Option D is correct because configuring the next-hop as an interface name (e.g., ge-0/0/0) creates a static route that is automatically removed from the routing table when that interface goes down. This is due to the route being 'qualified' by the interface's operational state; if the interface fails, the route is withdrawn. In contrast, using an IP address as the next-hop does not tie the route to the interface's state, so the route remains even if the interface fails, as long as the next-hop is reachable via another path.
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.
✗
Configure a higher metric on the static route.
Why it's wrong here
Metric is not used for interface dependency; it is used for dynamic protocol tie-breaking.
✗
Configure a preference of 0 on the static route.
Why it's wrong here
Preference 0 would make the route highly preferred but does not affect interface dependency.
✗
Configure the next-hop as an IP address.
Why it's wrong here
An IP next-hop does not make the route dependent on interface state; it only requires ARP resolution.
✓
Configure the next-hop as the interface name.
Why this is correct
Using an interface as the next-hop ties the route to the interface being up; if the interface goes down, the route is removed.
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 Cisco engineers often assume that specifying a next-hop IP address is the only valid way to configure a static route, but in Junos, using the interface name directly ties the route to the interface's state, which is the key to automatic removal upon interface failure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Junos, a static route with a next-hop specified as an interface name creates a 'directly attached' static route, which is automatically removed when the interface goes down because the route's next-hop is the interface itself. This behavior is governed by the interface's operational state (up/down) as tracked by the kernel. A real-world scenario is when you have a point-to-point link (e.g., a serial interface) and you want the static route to vanish immediately upon link failure to avoid blackholing traffic, which is critical for fast convergence in networks using routing protocols like OSPF or BGP.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
Routing Fundamentals — This question tests Routing Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the next-hop as the interface name. — Option D is correct because configuring the next-hop as an interface name (e.g., ge-0/0/0) creates a static route that is automatically removed from the routing table when that interface goes down. This is due to the route being 'qualified' by the interface's operational state; if the interface fails, the route is withdrawn. In contrast, using an IP address as the next-hop does not tie the route to the interface's state, so the route remains even if the interface fails, as long as the next-hop is reachable via another path.
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.
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Question Discussion
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