This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 operations center uses SNMP to monitor device health. An administrator needs to retrieve the current CPU utilization from a router. Which SNMP operation is most appropriate?
GET
GET is used to read the value of a managed object, such as CPU utilization.
SET
Why wrong: SET is used to modify the value of a managed object, not to retrieve it.
TRAP
Why wrong: TRAP is an unsolicited notification from the agent to the manager, not a request for current data.
INFORM
Why wrong: INFORM is similar to TRAP but with acknowledgment; it is still a notification, not a retrieval operation.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
GET
The SNMP GET operation is used by an NMS (Network Management System) to actively request a specific variable from a managed device, such as the current CPU utilization from a router's OID. This is a poll-based retrieval, making it the correct choice for an administrator who needs to read a single value on demand.
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.
GET
Why this is correct
GET is used to read the value of a managed object, such as CPU utilization.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SET
Why it's wrong here
SET is used to modify the value of a managed object, not to retrieve it.
TRAP
Why it's wrong here
TRAP is an unsolicited notification from the agent to the manager, not a request for current data.
INFORM
Why it's wrong here
INFORM is similar to TRAP but with acknowledgment; it is still a notification, not a retrieval operation.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing event-driven notifications (TRAP/INFORM) with on-demand data retrieval, leading candidates to select TRAP because they associate it with CPU alerts, but the question asks for retrieving current utilization, not waiting for an alert.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
INFORM is similar to TRAP but with acknowledgment; it is still a notification, not a retrieval operation.
Detailed technical explanation
SNMP GET uses the GetRequest PDU to retrieve the value of a specific OID from the MIB (Management Information Base). The router's CPU utilization is typically stored under OID 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.109.1.1.1.1.7 (Cisco's cpmCPUTotal5sec) or similar, and the NMS sends a GET to that exact OID. In real-world monitoring, repeated GETs are used for polling intervals, while TRAPs are reserved for threshold breaches like CPU overload.
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 N10-009 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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Network Operations — This question tests Network Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: GET — The SNMP GET operation is used by an NMS (Network Management System) to actively request a specific variable from a managed device, such as the current CPU utilization from a router's OID. This is a poll-based retrieval, making it the correct choice for an administrator who needs to read a single value on demand.
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 11, 2026
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.
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