- A
Route preference (administrative distance).
Lower preference is preferred.
- B
The routing protocol from which the route originated.
Different protocols have default preferences, e.g., Direct 0, Static 5, OSPF 10.
- C
Number of next-hops available for each route.
Why wrong: Number of next-hops does not affect selection; all eligible next-hops are considered.
- D
Metric value (if from the same routing protocol).
Lower metric is preferred among equal preference routes.
- E
Bandwidth of the outgoing interface.
Why wrong: Bandwidth is not a selection criterion in Junos route selection.
Question 136 of 514
JNCIA-JUNOS Routing Fundamentals Practice Question
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of routing fundamentals. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which THREE factors influence the selection of the active route in the Junos routing table when multiple routes exist for the same destination? (Choose three.)
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
✓
Route preference (administrative distance).
Route preference, also known as administrative distance, is a fundamental tiebreaker in Junos when multiple routing protocols provide routes to the same destination. Junos assigns a default preference value to each protocol (e.g., OSPF internal = 10, Static = 5, BGP = 170), and the route with the lowest preference value is installed as the active route in the forwarding table. This mechanism ensures deterministic selection across different protocol sources.
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.
- ✓
Route preference (administrative distance).
Why this is correct
Lower preference is preferred.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
The routing protocol from which the route originated.
Why this is correct
Different protocols have default preferences, e.g., Direct 0, Static 5, OSPF 10.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Number of next-hops available for each route.
Why it's wrong here
Number of next-hops does not affect selection; all eligible next-hops are considered.
- ✓
Metric value (if from the same routing protocol).
Why this is correct
Lower metric is preferred among equal preference routes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Bandwidth of the outgoing interface.
Why it's wrong here
Bandwidth is not a selection criterion in Junos route selection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse route preference with metric, thinking both are always compared, but Junos only compares metrics when routes originate from the same protocol (same preference), and never considers interface bandwidth or next-hop count in the selection process.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Junos, the route selection process is strictly hierarchical: first, the route with the lowest preference (administrative distance) wins; if preferences are equal, the metric (cost) is compared; if metrics are also equal, the route with the lowest next-hop IP address is chosen as a final tiebreaker. This behavior is defined in the Junos route table selection algorithm and can be observed using the 'show route protocol' and 'show route extensive' commands, which display preference and metric values for each route.
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 network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this JNCIA-JUNOS question test?
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: Route preference (administrative distance). — Route preference, also known as administrative distance, is a fundamental tiebreaker in Junos when multiple routing protocols provide routes to the same destination. Junos assigns a default preference value to each protocol (e.g., OSPF internal = 10, Static = 5, BGP = 170), and the route with the lowest preference value is installed as the active route in the forwarding table. This mechanism ensures deterministic selection across different protocol sources.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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