N10-009 Network Operations Practice Question
A network engineer plans to change the routing protocol configuration on a core router that will affect all branch connectivity. According to change management best practices, which step should the engineer perform BEFORE implementing the change?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse 'notify users after the change' with a valid communication step, but change management requires prior notification and approval, not post-change notification.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a detailed rollback plan
Creating a detailed rollback plan is a fundamental change management best practice because it ensures that if the routing protocol reconfiguration (e.g., switching from EIGRP to OSPF or modifying redistribution) causes connectivity loss to all branches, the engineer can revert to the previous configuration quickly and safely. Without a rollback plan, a failed change could result in prolonged network downtime while troubleshooting from scratch, violating the principle of minimizing business impact. This step is performed before implementation to predefine the exact commands or backup configuration needed to restore the original routing state.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement the change during business hours to ensure staff availability
Why it's wrong here
Implementing significant network changes, like altering a routing protocol, during standard business hours is generally ill-advised due to the high potential for disrupting critical business operations. While staff availability might seem beneficial, the primary goal is to minimize user impact, which is best achieved during scheduled maintenance windows outside peak usage times. Any unforeseen issues during business hours could severely impede productivity and lead to significant financial losses.
When this WOULD be correct
If the change is an emergency fix for a critical outage that must be resolved immediately to restore service, implementing during business hours may be justified to ensure staff availability for rapid response.
- ✓
Create a detailed rollback plan
Why this is correct
A detailed rollback plan is paramount for any significant network change, such as altering a routing protocol. It outlines the precise steps to revert the network to its previous stable state if the new configuration introduces unforeseen issues or instability. This critical component of change management minimizes potential downtime and ensures business continuity by providing a safety net against deployment failures.
- ✗
Notify all users after the change is complete
Why it's wrong here
Notifying users *after* a significant network change, like a routing protocol alteration, is counterproductive and can lead to user frustration and unexpected service disruptions. Proactive communication *before* the change is essential to set proper expectations, inform users of potential impacts, and allow them to plan for any temporary service unavailability. This ensures a smoother transition and maintains user trust by preventing surprises.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a change is low-risk and pre-approved, and the question asks for the final step in the change process, notifying users after implementation could be correct to confirm completion.
- ✗
Test the change directly on the production router
Why it's wrong here
Testing a critical network change, such as a new routing protocol configuration, directly on a production router is an extremely high-risk practice that can lead to widespread network outages and service interruptions. Production environments are live and sensitive; any misconfiguration or unexpected behavior can immediately impact all connected users and services. Best practice dictates thorough testing in an isolated lab or staging environment first to validate functionality and stability without jeopardizing operational continuity.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the question asks for the best step to verify the change's functionality after implementation, and the options include testing on a redundant or backup production router during a maintenance window with full rollback readiness.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Create a detailed rollback planCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A detailed rollback plan is paramount for any significant network change, such as altering a routing protocol. It outlines the precise steps to revert the network to its previous stable state if the new configuration introduces unforeseen issues or instability. This critical component of change management minimizes potential downtime and ensures business continuity by providing a safety net against deployment failures.
✗Implement the change during business hours to ensure staff availabilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Implementing during business hours increases risk of disrupting operations; change management best practices require scheduling changes during maintenance windows to minimize impact.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the change is an emergency fix for a critical outage that must be resolved immediately to restore service, implementing during business hours may be justified to ensure staff availability for rapid response.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think having staff available during business hours helps with troubleshooting, but they overlook that changes should be scheduled to minimize user impact, not maximize staff convenience.
✗Notify all users after the change is completeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Notifying users after the change violates change management best practices, which require prior communication and approval to ensure stakeholders are aware and prepared for potential disruptions.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a change is low-risk and pre-approved, and the question asks for the final step in the change process, notifying users after implementation could be correct to confirm completion.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think user notification is sufficient because they focus on communication, but they overlook the need for pre-change planning and rollback preparation.
✗Test the change directly on the production routerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Testing directly on the production router risks causing network outages or disruptions, which violates change management best practices that require testing in a non-production environment first.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the question asks for the best step to verify the change's functionality after implementation, and the options include testing on a redundant or backup production router during a maintenance window with full rollback readiness.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think testing is always necessary before change, but they overlook the critical requirement to avoid production impact, especially when the change affects all branch connectivity.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Documentation and Diagrams
Key term
OSPF
OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that uses the SPF algorithm to compute the shortest path to each destination within a single autonomous system.
Key term
Router
A router is a networking device that connects different networks together and directs data traffic between them by choosing the best path for data to travel.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This N10-009 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 N10-009 exam.