JN0-106 Junos OS Fundamentals Practice Question
What is the default behavior when a user logs in to a Junos device and enters configuration mode?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates familiar with Cisco IOS may assume changes are applied immediately (like in 'configure terminal'), but Junos requires an explicit commit to activate changes, and the candidate configuration is a separate, editable copy.
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
✓
The user can edit the candidate configuration.
When a user enters configuration mode on a Junos device, they are placed into a private copy of the candidate configuration. This allows the user to make changes without affecting the active configuration until a commit operation is performed. Option B correctly describes this default behavior.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The user must first commit before making changes.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is incorrect because Junos uses a candidate configuration model: changes are staged in the candidate configuration without requiring a prior commit. A user can freely edit the candidate config after login, and only a later 'commit' command pushes those changes to the active configuration. Committing is the final activation step, not a prerequisite for making edits.
- ✓
The user can edit the candidate configuration.
Why this is correct
This is correct. By default, Junos separates the active configuration (the one currently used by the routing engine) from the candidate configuration. When a user logs in and enters configuration mode, they edit the candidate configuration with commands like 'set', 'edit', or 'delete'. These changes remain in the candidate until the user issues 'commit', at which point the candidate becomes the active configuration.
- ✗
The user can only view the configuration.
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because it overstates the restriction. While a user starts in operational mode where they can use 'show configuration' to view the active configuration, they are not limited to read-only access. From operational mode they can enter configuration mode and modify the candidate configuration, assuming their login class includes the appropriate permissions. Viewing is possible, but it is not the only permitted behavior.
- ✗
The user directly modifies the active configuration.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because Junos never lets a user modify the active configuration in place. Instead, all edits are made to the candidate configuration, and the 'commit' operation atomically replaces the active configuration with the candidate. If a user could directly modify the active configuration, there would be no way to review changes or roll back safely; the candidate/active separation is a core safety feature of Junos.
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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.