This JNCIA-JUNOS practice question tests your understanding of user interfaces. 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 two commands can be used to view the candidate configuration in set format? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
show | display set (in configuration mode)
Option C is correct because in configuration mode, the 'show | display set' command outputs the candidate configuration as a series of 'set' commands, which is a compact and script-friendly format. Option D is also correct because the same output can be achieved in operational mode using 'show configuration | display set', which displays the candidate configuration from the operational CLI context.
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.
✗
show configuration | display set | no-parenthesis
Why it's wrong here
This is not a valid command; 'no-parenthesis' is not a pipe action.
✗
show | set
Why it's wrong here
There is no '| set' pipe action in JunOS CLI.
✓
show | display set (in configuration mode)
Why this is correct
This command displays the candidate configuration in set format from configuration mode.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
show configuration | display set (in operational mode)
Why this is correct
This command displays the candidate configuration in set format from operational mode.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
show configuration | display inherited
Why it's wrong here
This displays inherited settings, not the configuration in set format.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the 'display set' modifier with the 'set' command or assume that 'show | set' is a valid shortcut, when in fact the correct syntax requires the pipe to 'display set' and the command must be issued in the appropriate mode (configuration or operational with 'show configuration').
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This is not a valid command; 'no-parenthesis' is not a pipe action.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'display set' pipe modifier converts the hierarchical configuration into a flat list of 'set' commands, which is ideal for scripting, version control, or applying configuration snippets. Under the hood, Junos uses a single candidate configuration database (candidate.conf) that is edited in configuration mode; the 'show | display set' output is generated by the management daemon (mgd) by traversing the configuration hierarchy and emitting set statements. In real-world scenarios, network engineers often use 'show configuration | display set' to capture a device's configuration for backup or to generate configuration templates.
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.
User Interfaces — This question tests User Interfaces — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: show | display set (in configuration mode) — Option C is correct because in configuration mode, the 'show | display set' command outputs the candidate configuration as a series of 'set' commands, which is a compact and script-friendly format. Option D is also correct because the same output can be achieved in operational mode using 'show configuration | display set', which displays the candidate configuration from the operational CLI context.
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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