JNCIA-JUNOS Routing Fundamentals Practice Question
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of routing 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.
An engineer wants to configure a static route that will be used only if the primary route (learned via OSPF) becomes unavailable. Which feature should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Floating static route with a higher preference.
Option B is correct because a floating static route uses a higher preference so it is less preferred than OSPF and only becomes active when OSPF fails. Option A is wrong because metric is not comparable across protocols. Option C is wrong because RPF is unrelated. Option D is wrong because routing policy is too broad and not the specific feature.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Floating static route with a higher preference.
Why this is correct
A higher preference (e.g., 15) makes the static route less preferred than OSPF (10), so it acts as a backup.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Metric is not compared across protocols; route preference is used.
✗
Reverse path forwarding.
Why it's wrong here
Reverse path forwarding is used for unicast RPF checks, not for backup routing.
✗
Routing policy.
Why it's wrong here
Routing policy can influence route selection but is not the specific feature for a backup static route.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
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
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
→Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
→Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
→Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
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
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
Routing Fundamentals — This question tests Routing Fundamentals — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Floating static route with a higher preference. — Option B is correct because a floating static route uses a higher preference so it is less preferred than OSPF and only becomes active when OSPF fails. Option A is wrong because metric is not comparable across protocols. Option C is wrong because RPF is unrelated. Option D is wrong because routing policy is too broad and not the specific feature.
What should I do if I get this JNCIA-JUNOS question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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