The correct answer is that a static route can use a qualified next hop to specify a fallback, because this feature allows you to define a backup next-hop address that the router will use only if the primary next hop becomes unreachable. In Junos, static routes have a default preference of 5, which is lower than the default preference of OSPF (10) or IS-IS (18), meaning static routes are inherently more preferred over most dynamic routes unless you intentionally override that value. On the JNCIA-Junos exam, this concept tests your understanding of route selection and administrative distance, often appearing in questions about failover scenarios or policy-based routing. A common trap is assuming static routes always have a preference of 0, but Junos uses 5 by default, and you can adjust it using the `preference` or `qualified-next-hop` statements. Memory tip: think of "5 is alive" for static route preference, and "qualified next hop" as your backup plan.
JNCIA-JUNOS Routing Fundamentals Practice Question
This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of routing fundamentals. 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.
Which THREE statements about static routes in Junos are correct?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Static routes have a default preference of 5.
Static routes in Junos have a default preference of 5, which is lower (more preferred) than routes learned from most dynamic routing protocols like OSPF (preference 10) or IS-IS (preference 18). This default value ensures that static routes are preferred over dynamically learned routes unless explicitly overridden.
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.
✓
Static routes have a default preference of 5.
Why this is correct
Default preference for static routes is 5.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
You can configure multiple static routes to the same destination for load balancing.
Why this is correct
Multiple static routes with equal metrics enable ECMP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The preference of a static route cannot be changed.
Why it's wrong here
Preference can be changed using the 'preference' statement.
✗
Static routes automatically update if the next hop becomes unreachable.
Why it's wrong here
Static routes do not update automatically.
✓
A static route can use a qualified next hop to specify a fallback.
Why this is correct
Qualified next hop allows a backup route.
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 often assume static route preference is immutable (like in some other vendors' implementations), but Junos allows preference modification, and they may also forget that static routes do not dynamically react to next-hop failures without additional configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Junos stores static routes in the routing table with a default preference of 5, but this can be overridden per route or per next hop using the 'preference' or 'qualified-next-hop' configuration. The 'qualified-next-hop' feature allows specifying a fallback next hop with a higher preference value, enabling simple failover without dynamic routing protocols. In real-world scenarios, static routes are often used for stub networks or default routes, and their lack of automatic withdrawal can cause blackholing if the next hop fails, which is why BFD or interface monitoring is commonly paired with static routes.
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Routing Fundamentals — This question tests Routing Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Static routes have a default preference of 5. — Static routes in Junos have a default preference of 5, which is lower (more preferred) than routes learned from most dynamic routing protocols like OSPF (preference 10) or IS-IS (preference 18). This default value ensures that static routes are preferred over dynamically learned routes unless explicitly overridden.
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
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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 static routes in Junos OS are correct? (Choose two.)
easy
A.Two static routes to the same destination with the same preference will result in an active/backup scenario.
✓ B.A static route can have a next-hop specified as an interface name for point-to-point interfaces.
✓ C.A static route can use the 'reject' next-hop to drop traffic matching the route.
D.The default preference for a static route is 10.
E.A static route must always include a next-hop address.
Why B: Options A and D are correct. A: A static route with a next-hop of 'reject' installs a reject route to prevent traffic. D: A static route can have a next-hop that is an interface name (e.g., ge-0/0/0) for point-to-point interfaces. B is incorrect; the default preference is 5, not 10. C is incorrect; a static route can be configured without a next-hop (though not typical) but the statement is too absolute. E is incorrect; two static routes to the same destination with equal preferences result in ECMP, not active/backup.
Variation 2. Which two statements about static routes in Junos OS are correct?
medium
A.A static route with a next-hop of 127.0.0.1 is an unreachable route.
✓ B.Static routes have a default preference of 5.
✓ C.A static route configured with a next-hop of an interface name (e.g., ge-0/0/0) uses Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) to resolve the next-hop MAC address.
D.A static route with a next-hop of 0.0.0.0 is a discard route.
E.Static routes can have a preference value of 0.
Why B: Option A is correct: static routes have a default preference of 5. Option B is correct: when a static route uses an interface as the next-hop, the router uses ARP to resolve the MAC address of the next-hop. Option C is incorrect: a next-hop of 0.0.0.0 is used for a default route, not a discard route; a discard route uses the 'discard' keyword. Option D is incorrect: static routes cannot have a preference of 0; preference 0 is reserved for directly connected routes. Option E is incorrect: 127.0.0.1 is a loopback address, but as a next-hop it would require the loopback interface to be specified and is not typically used for unreachable routes.
Variation 3. Which two statements are true about static routes on Juniper devices? (Choose two.)
easy
✓ A.A static route with a next-hop of an IP address requires that the next-hop be reachable.
✓ B.Static routes can be configured with a qualified-next-hop to provide conditional routing.
C.A static route with a next-hop of an interface will be active even if the interface is down.
D.A static route with a preference of 10 is preferred over a static route with a preference of 5.
E.Static routes cannot be used for load balancing.
Why A: Options B and E are correct. Option A is false because a static route with a next-hop of an interface is not active if the interface is down. Option C is false because static routes can be used for load balancing. Option D is false because a lower preference number indicates a more preferred route.
Variation 4. Which TWO statements are true about static routes in Junos?
easy
A.Static routes have a default preference value of 10.
✓ B.Static routes remain in the routing table even if the next hop is unreachable.
✓ C.Static routes have a default preference value of 5.
D.Static routes require a routing protocol to be activated.
E.Static routes are automatically updated if the network topology changes.
Why B: Static routes in Junos have a default preference of 5, not 10 (which is the default for OSPF internal routes). They remain in the routing table even if the next hop becomes unreachable because Junos uses a 'passive' route model; the route is only removed if explicitly deleted or if a better route is learned via a routing protocol. This behavior is controlled by the 'no-readvertise' and 'passive' attributes of static routes.
Variation 5. Refer to the exhibit. What does the 'user' type indicate about the route?
easy
A.The route is from the kernel.
✓ B.The route was manually configured.
C.The route is a default route generated by the router.
D.The route was learned from a routing protocol.
Why B: Option B is correct because 'user' in the forwarding table indicates a manually configured route (e.g., static). Option A is wrong because protocol-learned routes show 'other' or specific protocol. Option C is wrong because default routes generated by the router (e.g., through router advertisement) would not show as 'user'. Option D is wrong because kernel routes show as 'kern'.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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