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.
An engineer needs to load a full configuration from a text file onto a Junos device, replacing the entire candidate configuration. 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 set /path/to/config.txt
Why wrong: Expects set commands, not a full configuration.
load override /path/to/config.txt
Replaces entire candidate configuration with file contents.
load patch /path/to/config.txt
Why wrong: Applies a patch, not a full replacement.
load merge /path/to/config.txt
Why wrong: Merges with existing candidate, does not replace.
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 override /path/to/config.txt
The 'load override' command replaces the entire candidate configuration with the contents of the specified text file, discarding any existing candidate changes. This is the correct choice because the engineer explicitly needs to replace the full configuration, not merge or patch it.
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 set /path/to/config.txt
Why it's wrong here
Expects set commands, not a full configuration.
load override /path/to/config.txt
Why this is correct
Replaces entire candidate configuration with file contents.
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 patch /path/to/config.txt
Why it's wrong here
Applies a patch, not a full replacement.
load merge /path/to/config.txt
Why it's wrong here
Merges with existing candidate, does not replace.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'load override' with 'load merge' because both load a file, but only 'load override' discards the existing candidate configuration, while 'load merge' preserves it and can cause configuration conflicts or residual settings.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Expects set commands, not a full configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, 'load override' reads the configuration file and completely replaces the candidate configuration in the <candidate> database, discarding any previous edits. This is equivalent to deleting all existing hierarchy and then loading the new configuration, which is useful when applying a known-good baseline from a backup. In contrast, 'load merge' uses the same XML-based parsing but adds or updates nodes without removing unrelated existing statements, which can lead to unintended leftover configurations.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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
Junos Configuration Basics — This question tests Junos Configuration Basics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: load override /path/to/config.txt — The 'load override' command replaces the entire candidate configuration with the contents of the specified text file, discarding any existing candidate changes. This is the correct choice because the engineer explicitly needs to replace the full configuration, not merge or patch it.
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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