Pass the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

When traceroute shows asterisks (timeouts) instead of IP addresses or hostnames, it may indicate that intermediate routers are dropping ICMP packets. However, performing an nslookup will reveal the IP address associated with the domain name, confirming that DNS resolution is correct and helping identify the path to the target server. The document states:

“nslookup is used to query DNS servers to retrieve IP address information associated with a domain name, which helps confirm DNS resolution is working correctly even when traceroute results show timeouts.”

Understanding End-of-Support:

End-of-Support Status: When a vendor declares a device as end-of-support, it means the device will no longer receive updates, patches, or technical support. This poses a security risk as new vulnerabilities will not be addressed.

Risks of Keeping an End-of-Support Device:

Security Vulnerabilities: Without updates, the switch becomes susceptible to new security threats.

Compliance Issues: Many regulatory frameworks require that critical infrastructure be maintained with supported and secure hardware.

Best Next Step - Replacement:

Decommission and Replace: The most secure approach is to replace the end-of-support switch with a new, supported model. This ensures the infrastructure remains secure and compliant with current standards.

Planning and Execution: Plan for the replacement by evaluating the network's needs, selecting a suitable replacement switch, and scheduling downtime for the hardware swap.

Comparison with Other Options:

Apply the Latest Patches: While helpful, this does not address future vulnerabilities since no further patches will be provided.

Ensure the Current Firmware Has No Issues: This is only a temporary measure and does not mitigate future risks.

Isolate the Switch from the Network: Isolating the switch may disrupt network operations and is not a viable long-term solution.

Temperature and humidity controlis the best way to reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Dry environments significantly increase the likelihood of static buildup, which can discharge and damage sensitive components. By controlling humidity, the environment becomes less prone to static electricity.

For 45 hosts, the minimum subnet size must allow at least 46 usable addresses (1 each for network and broadcast addresses).

A /26 subnet provides 64 addresses, 62 usable — suitable.

A /27 subnet gives only 30 usable — insufficient.

A /25 offers 126 usable — more than needed.

A /28 provides just 14 — too small.

So, the most efficient subnet with minimal wastage is /26.

From Andrew Ramdayal’s guide:

“When designing subnets, always choose the smallest subnet mask that still accommodates all hosts. A /26 provides 62 usable host addresses, suitable for networks with about 50 hosts.”

Security groups in cloud environments act as virtual firewalls for VM instances, controlling inbound and outbound traffic based on specified rules.

From Andrew Ramdayal’s guide:

“Network security groups are used to control inbound and outbound traffic to cloud resources within a VPC. They act as a virtual firewall for associated instances...”

Single-mode fiber is best suited for long-distance communication, often exceeding 10 km (6.2 miles). It's immune to EMI and offers high bandwidth — making it the ideal choice for connecting buildings across a city.

Coaxial (A) and Twinaxial (B) are used for shorter distances and specific use cases (e.g., storage or legacy systems).

Cat 5 (D) is limited to 100 meters and is not suitable for city-level interconnects.

✅ For long-distance, high-speed, and reliable communication between buildings, Single-mode fiber is the professional choice.

Understanding Subnetting:

The subnet mask 255.255.255.240 (or /28) indicates that each subnet has 16 IP addresses (14 usable addresses, 1 network address, and 1 broadcast address).

Calculating the Subnet Range:

Subnet Calculation: For the IP address 10.0.0.95 with a /28 subnet mask:

Network address: 10.0.0.80

Usable IP range: 10.0.0.81 to 10.0.0.94

Broadcast address: 10.0.0.95

Router Interface Configuration:

Broadcast Address Issue: The IP address 10.0.0.95 is the broadcast address for the subnet 10.0.0.80/28. Configuring a router interface with the broadcast address will cause routing issues as it is not a valid host address.

Comparison with Other Options:

The web server is in a different subnet: The web server (10.0.0.81) is within the same subnet range (10.0.0.80/28).

The IP address space is a class A network: While 10.0.0.0 is a Class A network, this does not explain the routing issue caused by the broadcast address.

The subnet is in a private address space: The private address space designation (RFC 1918) does not impact the routing issue related to the broadcast address configuration.

Resolution:

Reconfigure the router interface with a valid host IP address within the usable range, such as 10.0.0.94.

A large number of collisions and input errors typically indicates a duplex mismatch, such as when one device is set to full duplex and the other to half duplex. This leads to communication issues and poor performance. The document explains:

“Collisions and input errors are clear signs of duplex mismatches… typically caused when one device operates in half duplex while the other is in full duplex, causing performance and connectivity issues.”

Out-of-band (OOB) managementallows administrators to manage devices remotely even if the primary network is down. This is especially useful when physical access to the server is not possible. OOB management often uses a separate management interface, ensuring access regardless of the server's operational state.

To monitor server availability, SNMP traps are the best choice. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) allows devices to send alerts (traps) when certain conditions are met, such as server downtime or high resource usage.

Breakdown of Options:

A. Packet capture – Capturing packets provides insights into network traffic but does not actively monitor server availability.

B. Data usage reports – These analyze network traffic consumption but do not indicate whether a server is available or not.

C. SNMP traps – Correct answer. SNMP traps notify administrators of server issues in real time.

D. Configuration monitoring – This tracks configuration changes rather than availability.

A split-tunnel VPN allows some traffic to be routed through the VPN while other traffic goes directly to the internet. This setup offers several advantages, with a primary one being cost-effectiveness due to cloud-based traffic not consuming company bandwidth.

Bandwidth Utilization: Split-tunnel VPNs reduce the amount of traffic passing through the company's network, freeing up bandwidth for other uses.

Performance: By allowing internet-bound traffic to bypass the VPN, it can reduce latency and improve the performance for users accessing cloud services directly.

Cost Savings: Reduced load on the company's VPN infrastructure can lead to lower costs in terms of both hardware and bandwidth.

Network References:

CompTIA Network+ N10-007 Official Certification Guide: Covers VPN types, including split-tunnel configurations and their advantages.

Cisco Networking Academy: Discusses VPN technologies and the benefits of split-tunneling.

Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide: Provides detailed information on VPN setups, including the cost-effectiveness of split-tunnel VPNs.

By allowing cloud-based traffic to flow outside the company’s network, a split-tunnel VPN optimizes resource usage and enhances the overall network performance without incurring extra costs for bandwidth.

Using Pre-Shared Key (PSK) authentication means that all users share the same Wi-Fi password, making it difficult to identify individual users when security incidents occur.

Migrating to WPA2-Enterprise (or WPA3-Enterprise) replaces PSK authentication with individual user credentials using 802.1X authentication and a RADIUS server. This allows the organization to:

Track and log specific user activity

Enforce per-user authentication policies

Improve network security

Breakdown of Options:

A. Restrict users to the 5GHz frequency – Improves performance but does not enhance user tracking or security.

B. Upgrade to a mesh network – A mesh network improves coverage, not security tracking.

C. Migrate from PSK to Enterprise – ✅ Correct answer. WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise uses individual user authentication, allowing per-user tracking.

D. Implement WPA2 encryption – WPA2 is already widely used; it does not resolve the tracking issue.

Shoulder surfing is a social engineering attack where attackers observe someone’s private information by looking over their shoulder or using tools like cameras to capture input.

From Andrew Ramdayal’s guide:

“Shoulder surfing is the act of watching someone enter confidential information, such as PINs or passwords, often using direct line-of-sight or surveillance equipment.”

AnAccess Control List (ACL)configured on theedge firewallis the correct and most effective solution tofilter inbound traffic. The administrator can allow TCP port 443 (HTTPS) and deny all other traffic. This is a classic firewall configuration for securing public-facing servers.

A cold site is a backup facility that provides infrastructure (such as power, cooling, and space) but does not have active IT resources installed. When a disaster occurs, IT teams must bring in and configure all necessary hardware and software before services can resume. This process can take weeks or longer—which matches the scenario described.

•Why not the other options?

•Hot site (A) – A hot site is a fully operational backup facility with up-to-date data and pre-configured hardware, allowing almost instant failover (minutes to hours).

•Warm site (B) – A warm site has pre-installed hardware and some software/configurations, but it requires some setup before becoming fully operational (hours to a few days).

•Active-active approach (D) – This means that multiple sites run simultaneously with load balancing, ensuring no downtime in case of a failure.