The correct action is to use the 'request system storage compress' command. This command immediately frees disk space by compressing logs that are no longer active, such as rotated or archived files, using gzip compression—preserving every byte of log data for compliance while reclaiming critical space on the /var partition. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Junos operational commands for storage management, often appearing as a trap where candidates might mistakenly delete logs or use 'request system storage cleanup' (which removes old core files, not logs). A common memory tip is to think "compress, don't delete" when compliance is the constraint; the command specifically targets inactive files, so it won't touch logs currently being written to. Remember the mnemonic: **C**ompliance **R**equires **O**ld **L**ogs **D**on't **S**crap—use **C**ompress.
JNCIA-JUNOS Operational Monitoring and Maintenance Practice Question
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of operational monitoring and maintenance. 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 Juniper SRX300 firewall is deployed at a branch office. The firewall's disk space on /var is critically low, causing logs to stop writing and system performance degradation. You need to free up space quickly without deleting logs (they are required for compliance). Which action should you take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Compress old log files using 'request system storage compress'.
Option D is correct because the 'request system storage compress' command compresses inactive log files on the /var partition, freeing up disk space without deleting any logs. This preserves the logs for compliance requirements while immediately alleviating the low disk space condition. The command targets files that are not currently being written to, such as rotated or archived logs, and compresses them using gzip.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Increase the /var partition size using LVM.
Why it's wrong here
SRX does not support dynamic partition resizing.
✗
Enable log rotation with smaller retention to prevent future growth.
Why it's wrong here
Helps in the future but does not free current space.
✗
Move logs to an NFS mount using 'file copy' and delete local copies.
Why it's wrong here
Requires NFS setup and deletes logs, violating compliance.
✓
Compress old log files using 'request system storage compress'.
Why this is correct
Compresses logs to reclaim space without deletion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'compress' with 'delete' or think that log rotation alone solves the immediate space issue, but the question explicitly requires freeing space quickly without deleting logs, making compression the only viable option.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'request system storage compress' command compresses files with a '.gz' extension using gzip compression, typically targeting log files that have been rotated (e.g., messages.0.gz, interactive-commands.1.gz). This reduces disk usage by 60-80% for text-based logs. In real-world scenarios, administrators often combine this with 'request system storage cleanup' to remove temporary files and core dumps, but compression is the safest option when logs must be retained for compliance.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Operational Monitoring and Maintenance — This question tests Operational Monitoring and Maintenance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Compress old log files using 'request system storage compress'. — Option D is correct because the 'request system storage compress' command compresses inactive log files on the /var partition, freeing up disk space without deleting any logs. This preserves the logs for compliance requirements while immediately alleviating the low disk space condition. The command targets files that are not currently being written to, such as rotated or archived logs, and compresses them using gzip.
What should I do if I get this JNCIA-JUNOS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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