The answer is the operational command show system processes extensive. This command is correct because it provides a detailed breakdown of CPU and memory utilization for every individual process running on the Junos device, including routing protocol daemons such as bgpd, ospfd, and rpd. When diagnosing high CPU usage from routing protocols, this granular view allows an engineer to pinpoint exactly which BGP peer or routing process is consuming excessive resources, rather than relying on aggregated statistics that might obscure the specific culprit. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between process-level and protocol-level troubleshooting commands—a common trap is choosing show bgp summary or show routing protocol statistics, which only show peer states or route counts, not CPU consumption. A helpful memory tip is to think of the word “extensive” as meaning “extended process details,” so when you need to see which daemon is hogging the CPU, you go extensive.
JNCIA-JUNOS Junos OS Fundamentals Practice Question
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of junos os 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 Juniper device is experiencing high CPU utilization due to a routing protocol process. The engineer suspects a specific BGP peer is causing the issue. Which operational command can be used to collect diagnostic information about the routing protocol processes?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
show system processes extensive
Option A is correct because 'show system processes extensive' displays detailed CPU and memory usage for each individual process, including routing protocol daemons like bgpd. This allows the engineer to identify which specific BGP peer or process is consuming excessive CPU resources, rather than just seeing aggregate routing protocol statistics.
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.
✓
show system processes extensive
Why this is correct
Provides detailed process-level CPU and memory statistics, useful for diagnosing high CPU.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
request support information
Why it's wrong here
Generates a support bundle but is not a quick diagnostic command for process CPU.
✗
show bgp summary
Why it's wrong here
Displays BGP neighbor information, but does not show process CPU usage.
✗
monitor traffic interface
Why it's wrong here
Captures traffic on an interface; does not provide process information.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often pick 'show bgp summary' thinking it will show CPU usage per peer, but it only shows BGP session state and prefix counts, not process-level CPU metrics.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Generates a support bundle but is not a quick diagnostic command for process CPU.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Junos runs routing protocols as separate daemons (e.g., bgpd, ospfd, rpd) within a modular architecture. The 'show system processes extensive' command queries the kernel's process table and displays fields such as CPU% and RSS for each PID, allowing correlation of high CPU with a specific routing protocol process. In real-world scenarios, a flapping BGP session or a massive route churn can cause bgpd to spike CPU; this command helps isolate the culprit without needing to disable peers blindly.
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 practitioner preparing for the JNCIA-JUNOS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
Junos OS Fundamentals — This question tests Junos OS Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: show system processes extensive — Option A is correct because 'show system processes extensive' displays detailed CPU and memory usage for each individual process, including routing protocol daemons like bgpd. This allows the engineer to identify which specific BGP peer or process is consuming excessive CPU resources, rather than just seeing aggregate routing protocol statistics.
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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