The answer is to execute 'rollback rescue' from configuration mode and then commit. This is correct because the 'request system configuration rescue save' command stores a known-good configuration snapshot that can be instantly recalled using 'rollback rescue', which replaces the active candidate configuration with the rescue configuration without requiring a reboot. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Junos rescue configuration recovery methods when management access is lost but console access remains—a common trap is thinking you need to reboot or load a previous file, but the rescue configuration is the fastest path since it bypasses the need for network access. Remember the memory tip: "Rescue is the rollback that saves your back."
JNCIA-JUNOS Junos Configuration Basics Practice Question
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.
A network engineer accidentally committed a configuration on a Juniper router that caused a loss of management access via SSH and SNMP. The engineer has console access and the device is still operational. Before the change, the engineer had saved a rescue configuration using 'request system configuration rescue save'. Which action should the engineer take to restore management access most quickly?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
At the shell prompt, execute 'cli -c "rollback rescue"' and then commit.
Option A is correct because the 'request system configuration rescue save' command stores a rescue configuration that can be rolled back to using 'rollback rescue' in configuration mode. Since the engineer has console access, they can enter configuration mode and execute 'rollback rescue' followed by 'commit' to instantly revert to the last known working configuration, restoring SSH and SNMP access without requiring a reboot.
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.
✓
At the shell prompt, execute 'cli -c "rollback rescue"' and then commit.
Why this is correct
This loads the rescue configuration without rebooting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
At the configuration mode, execute 'rollback 0'.
Why it's wrong here
This rolls back to the previously committed configuration, not rescue.
✗
Power cycle the device; it will automatically boot with the rescue configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Rescue configuration is not automatically loaded at boot.
✗
Reboot the device and press the space bar to load the rescue configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Pressing space bar enters the boot loader, not rescue config; rescue is not automatically loaded.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'rollback rescue' with a boot-time recovery mechanism, assuming the rescue configuration loads automatically on reboot, when in fact it requires a manual command after the device is operational.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The rescue configuration is stored as a separate file (typically 'rescue.conf.gz') in the '/config' directory on Junos devices. It is not automatically loaded on reboot; it must be explicitly invoked via 'rollback rescue' in configuration mode or 'load rescue' in operational mode. This feature is particularly useful for remote management recovery scenarios where a misconfiguration locks out SSH or SNMP, as it allows a quick rollback without needing physical access or a full reboot.
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.
Junos Configuration Basics — This question tests Junos Configuration Basics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: At the shell prompt, execute 'cli -c "rollback rescue"' and then commit. — Option A is correct because the 'request system configuration rescue save' command stores a rescue configuration that can be rolled back to using 'rollback rescue' in configuration mode. Since the engineer has console access, they can enter configuration mode and execute 'rollback rescue' followed by 'commit' to instantly revert to the last known working configuration, restoring SSH and SNMP access without requiring a reboot.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO statements about the rescue configuration are correct? (Choose two.)
hard
A.The rescue configuration is automatically saved after every commit.
B.The 'rollback rescue' command loads the factory-default configuration.
✓ C.The rescue configuration is designed to provide a method of last-resort recovery.
✓ D.The rescue configuration can be saved by issuing the 'request system configuration rescue save' command.
E.The rescue configuration can be used to restore only a subset of the configuration.
Why C: Option C is correct because the rescue configuration is explicitly designed to provide a method of last-resort recovery. It allows an administrator to save a known-good configuration that can be loaded even if the active configuration becomes corrupted or inaccessible, ensuring the device can be brought back to a functional state.
Variation 2. Which TWO statements about configuration storage in Junos are true?
easy
✓ A.The rescue configuration is stored in /config/rescue.conf.gz.
B.The rollback configurations are stored in /config/juniper.conf.0.gz, .1.gz, etc.
✓ C.The active configuration is stored in /config/juniper.conf.gz.
D.The candidate configuration is stored in /config/.
E.The factory default configuration is stored in /etc/config/.
Why A: Option A is correct because the rescue configuration is stored as a compressed file at /config/rescue.conf.gz on Junos devices. This configuration is saved using the 'request system configuration rescue save' command and can be loaded with 'rollback rescue' to recover from a configuration that prevents the device from booting properly.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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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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