This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 administrator scheduled a change window to upgrade the firmware on a core switch. During the upgrade, the switch fails to boot properly. The administrator needs to restore the switch to its previous operational state. Which of the following should the administrator have done before the upgrade to facilitate a successful rollback?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Backed up the current configuration and firmware image.
Option B is correct because backing up both the current configuration and the firmware image ensures that the administrator can restore the switch to its exact previous operational state if the upgrade fails. Without a backup of the firmware image, the switch may not have a valid bootable image to revert to, even if the configuration is saved. This is a fundamental prerequisite for any firmware upgrade rollback plan.
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.
✗
Notified all users of the maintenance window.
Why it's wrong here
Notification is good practice but does not provide the technical means to restore the switch.
✓
Backed up the current configuration and firmware image.
Why this is correct
A backup of both the configuration and the firmware image is essential to restore the switch to its exact previous state.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disconnected all redundant links.
Why it's wrong here
Disconnecting links may prevent network loops but does not help in restoring the switch after a failed upgrade.
✗
Set the switch to boot from an alternative image.
Why it's wrong here
If the alternative image does not exist or is not the original, this may not restore the previous state. Backup is necessary.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'backing up the configuration' with 'backing up the firmware image,' assuming a configuration backup alone is sufficient for a full rollback, but without the firmware image the switch may have no bootable OS to load.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
During a firmware upgrade, the switch typically writes the new image to flash memory and updates the boot variable (e.g., `boot system flash:<new-image.bin>`). If the new image is corrupt or incompatible, the switch may fail to boot. A proper rollback requires restoring the previous image file (e.g., via TFTP or SCP) and the saved configuration (e.g., `startup-config`). In Cisco IOS, the `copy flash: tftp:` command or `archive download-sw` with a backup image is commonly used, and the `reload` command with the saved configuration ensures the switch boots with the old settings.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this N10-009 question in full detail.
Network Operations — This question tests Network Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Backed up the current configuration and firmware image. — Option B is correct because backing up both the current configuration and the firmware image ensures that the administrator can restore the switch to its exact previous operational state if the upgrade fails. Without a backup of the firmware image, the switch may not have a valid bootable image to revert to, even if the configuration is saved. This is a fundamental prerequisite for any firmware upgrade rollback plan.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 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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