This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of junos configuration basics. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 operational mode command displays the differences between the candidate configuration and the active configuration?
show configuration | compare
Displays differences between candidate and active configurations.
show | display set
Why wrong: Displays configuration in set format, not differences.
show system configuration | compare
Why wrong: Not a valid command in Junos.
show | compare
Why wrong: This command is used in configuration mode, not operational mode.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
show configuration | compare
Option A is correct because the 'show configuration | compare' command displays the differences between the candidate configuration and the active (committed) configuration. The pipe to 'compare' is a Junos CLI filter that performs a diff operation, showing lines added, changed, or deleted. This is the standard way to review uncommitted changes before committing them.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
show configuration | compare
Why this is correct
Displays differences between candidate and active configurations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
show | display set
Why it's wrong here
Displays configuration in set format, not differences.
show system configuration | compare
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid command in Junos.
show | compare
Why it's wrong here
This command is used in configuration mode, not operational mode.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'show | compare' with 'show configuration | compare', forgetting that the pipe must follow a specific operational mode command (like 'show configuration') to produce a meaningful diff, not just any 'show' command.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Not a valid command in Junos.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, the '| compare' filter uses the same diff engine as the 'commit check' and 'commit confirmed' operations, comparing the candidate configuration stored in /config/juniper.conf+ against the active configuration in /config/juniper.conf. In real-world scenarios, this command is critical before a commit to avoid unintended changes, especially in production environments where multiple engineers may be editing the configuration simultaneously.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Junos Configuration Basics — This question tests Junos Configuration Basics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: show configuration | compare — Option A is correct because the 'show configuration | compare' command displays the differences between the candidate configuration and the active (committed) configuration. The pipe to 'compare' is a Junos CLI filter that performs a diff operation, showing lines added, changed, or deleted. This is the standard way to review uncommitted changes before committing them.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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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