Quick Answer
The answer is the `load merge terminal` command, because it allows you to add new interface configuration statements to the candidate configuration by entering them line by line in the terminal, merging them with any existing candidate changes without overwriting them. This command is essential for incremental configuration updates in Junos, as it preserves all previously staged modifications while incorporating the new interface settings, unlike `load override` which would replace the entire candidate configuration. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this question tests your understanding of Junos configuration modes and the distinction between merging and overriding changes—a common trap is confusing `load merge terminal` with `load set terminal`, where the latter requires a full set of formatted commands rather than free-form configuration statements. To remember it, think of the word “merge” as “mix without erasing”: you are adding new ingredients to an existing recipe without starting over.
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of junos configuration basics. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 wants to add a new interface configuration to the candidate configuration while preserving all existing candidate changes. Which command should be used?
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.
load merge terminal
Merges the new configuration with the existing candidate, preserving other changes.
load replace terminal
Why wrong: Replaces specific statements based on pattern matching, not preserving all changes.
load override terminal
Why wrong: Replaces the entire candidate configuration.
load set terminal
Why wrong: Loads set commands but replaces the candidate, not merges.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
load merge terminal
The 'load merge terminal' command is correct because it allows you to add new interface configuration statements to the candidate configuration by entering them line by line in the terminal, merging them with any existing candidate changes without overwriting them. This preserves all previously staged modifications while incorporating the new interface settings, which is essential for incremental configuration updates in Junos.
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.
load merge terminal
Why this is correct
Merges the new configuration with the existing candidate, preserving other changes.
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.
load replace terminal
Why it's wrong here
Replaces specific statements based on pattern matching, not preserving all changes.
load override terminal
Why it's wrong here
Replaces the entire candidate configuration.
load set terminal
Why it's wrong here
Loads set commands but replaces the candidate, not merges.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'load merge terminal' with 'load set terminal', mistakenly thinking that 'set' commands always merge, but in Junos, 'load set terminal' replaces the entire candidate configuration with the provided set commands, similar to 'load override'.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Loads set commands but replaces the candidate, not merges.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, 'load merge terminal' reads the entered configuration statements and applies them as a patch to the current candidate configuration, using the same merge logic as 'load merge' from a file. This is particularly useful in automation scripts or when applying incremental changes via a terminal session without disrupting other pending modifications. A subtle behavior is that if the entered configuration conflicts with an existing statement (e.g., a different value for the same parameter), the merge operation will replace the old value with the new one, but it will not remove unrelated statements.
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.
Junos Configuration Basics — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Junos Configuration Basics — This question tests Junos Configuration Basics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: load merge terminal — The 'load merge terminal' command is correct because it allows you to add new interface configuration statements to the candidate configuration by entering them line by line in the terminal, merging them with any existing candidate changes without overwriting them. This preserves all previously staged modifications while incorporating the new interface settings, which is essential for incremental configuration updates in Junos.
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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