JNCIA-JUNOS Networking Fundamentals Practice Question
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of networking fundamentals. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
user@mx> show route table inet.0 10.10.10.0/24
inet.0: 15 destinations, 15 routes (15 active, 0 holddown, 0 hidden)
@ = Routing Use Only, # = Forwarding Use Only
+ = Active Route, - = Last Active, * = Both
10.10.10.0/24 *[Static/5] 00:01:23, metric 0
> to 172.16.1.1 via ge-0/0/0.0
```
Refer to the exhibit. An engineer adds a new static route to 10.10.10.0/24 via next-hop 172.16.1.2. The new route does not appear in the route table. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
```
user@mx> show route table inet.0 10.10.10.0/24
inet.0: 15 destinations, 15 routes (15 active, 0 holddown, 0 hidden)
@ = Routing Use Only, # = Forwarding Use Only
+ = Active Route, - = Last Active, * = Both
10.10.10.0/24 *[Static/5] 00:01:23, metric 0
> to 172.16.1.1 via ge-0/0/0.0
```
A
The route requires an export policy to be installed.
Why wrong: Static routes are automatically installed in the route table.
B
The route has a different AS path.
Why wrong: Static routes don't have AS path.
C
The next-hop 172.16.1.2 is not directly reachable.
If the next-hop is not directly connected or has no route, the static route is hidden.
D
Static routes cannot have the same preference as an existing route.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The next-hop 172.16.1.2 is not directly reachable.
Option C is correct because in Junos, a static route's next-hop must be directly reachable (i.e., on a connected subnet) for the route to be installed in the inet.0 route table. If the next-hop 172.16.1.2 is not directly connected, the route remains hidden (inactive) and does not appear in the forwarding table. Junos does not perform recursive next-hop resolution for static routes by default unless configured with 'resolve'.
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.
✗
The route requires an export policy to be installed.
Why it's wrong here
Static routes are automatically installed in the route table.
✗
The route has a different AS path.
Why it's wrong here
Static routes don't have AS path.
✓
The next-hop 172.16.1.2 is not directly reachable.
Why this is correct
If the next-hop is not directly connected or has no route, the static route is hidden.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Static routes cannot have the same preference as an existing route.
Why it's wrong here
They can, but only one becomes active.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates familiar with Cisco IOS expect static routes to automatically perform recursive next-hop resolution, but Junos requires either a directly connected next-hop or the explicit 'resolve' parameter to install the route.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Junos, the 'resolve' option can be added to a static route to allow recursive next-hop resolution, enabling the route to be installed even if the next-hop is not directly connected. Without 'resolve', the route is considered 'unreachable' and is hidden (shown with 'show route protocol static hidden'). This behavior differs from Cisco IOS, which performs recursive lookup by default. In real-world scenarios, this often catches engineers migrating from Cisco who assume the next-hop will be resolved via an IGP route.
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 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
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.
Networking Fundamentals — This question tests Networking Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The next-hop 172.16.1.2 is not directly reachable. — Option C is correct because in Junos, a static route's next-hop must be directly reachable (i.e., on a connected subnet) for the route to be installed in the inet.0 route table. If the next-hop 172.16.1.2 is not directly connected, the route remains hidden (inactive) and does not appear in the forwarding table. Junos does not perform recursive next-hop resolution for static routes by default unless configured with 'resolve'.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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