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.
A router has an OSPF route to 10.10.10.0/24 with preference 10 and a static route to the same prefix with preference 5. Which route is active in the routing table?
The OSPF route
Why wrong: OSPF preference (10) is higher than static preference (5), so it loses.
The static route
Lower preference number is preferred; static (5) beats OSPF (10).
Neither route
Why wrong: Both routes are configured; one will be active.
Both routes
Why wrong: ECMP requires equal preference; here preferences differ, so only one route is active.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The static route
The correct answer is B. Junos uses route preference to select the best route. Static routes have a default preference of 5, which is lower than OSPF's internal preference of 10, so the static route is preferred. Option A is wrong because OSPF has a higher preference. Option C is wrong because only one route is active (unless ECMP, but preferences differ). Option D is wrong because one route is active.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The OSPF route
Why it's wrong here
OSPF preference (10) is higher than static preference (5), so it loses.
The static route
Neither route
Why it's wrong here
Both routes are configured; one will be active.
Both routes
Why it's wrong here
ECMP requires equal preference; here preferences differ, so only one route is active.
Common exam traps
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related JNCIA-JUNOS OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
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FAQ
Routing Fundamentals — This question tests Routing Fundamentals — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
The correct answer is: The static route — The correct answer is B. Junos uses route preference to select the best route. Static routes have a default preference of 5, which is lower than OSPF's internal preference of 10, so the static route is preferred. Option A is wrong because OSPF has a higher preference. Option C is wrong because only one route is active (unless ECMP, but preferences differ). Option D is wrong because one route is active.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related JNCIA-JUNOS OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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