Quick Answer
The answer is show route table VPN-A. This command is correct because in Junos, routing instances create separate, isolated routing tables, and the table keyword directs the show route command to display only the routes belonging to that specific instance, rather than the default inet.0 table. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this tests your understanding of how Junos handles multiple routing instances, a key concept for virtualization and VPN scenarios; a common trap is forgetting the table keyword and using show route VPN-A, which would be interpreted as a route prefix, not an instance name. To remember, think of the table keyword as the key that unlocks the instance’s private routing table—without it, you’re still looking at the default.
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of operational monitoring and maintenance. 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 administrator is troubleshooting a routing issue and wants to view the routing table for a specific routing instance called 'VPN-A'. Which command should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
show routing-table VPN-A
Why wrong: Incorrect command; should be 'show route table'.
show route table VPN-A
Shows routes for the specified routing instance.
show route instance VPN-A
Why wrong: Not a valid command; use 'show route table'.' show routing instance' exists but shows instance parameters.
show routing instance VPN-A route
Why wrong: Incorrect command syntax.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
show route table VPN-A
The correct command to view the routing table for a specific routing instance in Junos is 'show route table VPN-A'. This command displays the routes associated with the routing instance named 'VPN-A', which is essential for troubleshooting routing issues within that instance. The 'show route' command is the standard way to view routing tables, and specifying the 'table' keyword followed by the instance name targets the correct routing table.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
show routing-table VPN-A
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect command; should be 'show route table'.
show route table VPN-A
Why this is correct
Shows routes for the specified routing instance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
show route instance VPN-A
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid command; use 'show route table'.' show routing instance' exists but shows instance parameters.
show routing instance VPN-A route
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect command syntax.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates familiar with Cisco IOS might expect 'show ip route vrf VPN-A' and incorrectly apply similar syntax like 'show routing-table VPN-A' or 'show route instance VPN-A', not realizing Junos uses 'show route table <instance-name>' for the same purpose.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect command; should be 'show route table'.
Detailed technical explanation
In Junos, each routing instance maintains its own independent routing table, identified by the instance name (e.g., VPN-A). The 'show route table <instance-name>' command queries the Routing Engine's RIB (Routing Information Base) for that specific instance, which is crucial for isolating routing issues in multi-instance environments like MPLS L3VPNs. A subtle behavior is that the default routing table (inet.0) is used for the master instance, and non-default instances have tables named after the instance (e.g., VPN-A.inet.0), but the command 'show route table VPN-A' automatically resolves to the correct table.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Operational Monitoring and Maintenance — This question tests Operational Monitoring and Maintenance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: show route table VPN-A — The correct command to view the routing table for a specific routing instance in Junos is 'show route table VPN-A'. This command displays the routes associated with the routing instance named 'VPN-A', which is essential for troubleshooting routing issues within that instance. The 'show route' command is the standard way to view routing tables, and specifying the 'table' keyword followed by the instance name targets the correct routing table.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This JNCIA-JUNOS 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 JNCIA-JUNOS exam.
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