Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A network technician is troubleshooting an issue where Server A can ping Server B by IP address, but Server B cannot ping Server A. Both servers are in the same VLAN and subnet, connected to the same switch. The switch ports are configured identically, and there are no ACLs or firewalls between them. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Server A's firewall is blocking incoming ICMP
A firewall on Server A can permit outgoing replies while blocking incoming requests, causing the one-way ping failure.
B
Distractor review
Server B's firewall is blocking outgoing ICMP
If Server B's firewall blocked outgoing ICMP, it would not send the ping request, and Server A would not receive the ping attempt. The symptom would be 'destination unreachable' from Server B, but Server A would see no request. However, Server A can ping Server B, so Server B replies are allowed in. Blocking only outgoing requests on Server B would result in a different failure (Server B cannot initiate pings, but could still receive them). Given the symptom, blocking incoming on Server A is more common.
C
Distractor review
The cable connecting Server A is faulty
A faulty cable would likely cause intermittent or complete connectivity loss in both directions, not a one-way failure.
D
Distractor review
There is a duplex mismatch on Server B's switch port
Duplex mismatch typically causes high error rates, collisions, and poor performance in both directions, not a complete failure of one-way communication.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A network engineer needs to connect two switches located 400 meters apart. The cable run includes high electromagnetic interference from nearby machinery. The engineer decides to use fiber optic cabling. Which transceiver type and fiber combination should be used to ensure the link reaches 400 meters while remaining cost-effective?
Question 2
A network engineer is designing a new switched network and needs to ensure that broadcast traffic from one department does not reach another department's workstations. The engineer plans to use VLANs. Which of the following must be configured on the switches to isolate broadcast domains as intended?
Question 3
A security engineer is configuring a site-to-site VPN between two branch offices. The requirement is to encrypt all traffic between the two networks using IPsec. Which IPsec mode should be used to encrypt the entire IP packet including the original header?
Question 4
A network administrator is connecting two switches to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. Which technology should be used to combine multiple physical links into a single logical link?
Question 5
A network administrator is experiencing issues where unauthorized devices are offering IP addresses to clients, causing connectivity problems. Which security feature should be enabled on switches to prevent this?
Question 6
A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue and suspects the problem is related to the physical cabling. At which layer of the OSI model should the administrator begin their investigation?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Server A's firewall is blocking incoming ICMP — The most common reason for a one-way ping failure in a local network is a personal firewall on the target server (Server A) that is blocking incoming ICMP echo requests. When Server A pings Server B, Server B's firewall allows the incoming request and sends a reply, which reaches Server A. However, when Server B tries to ping Server A, Server A's firewall blocks the incoming ICMP echo request, so no reply is sent. Option B is less likely because if Server B's firewall blocked outgoing ICMP, Server A would not receive the ping request from Server B in the first place, but the scenario states that Server B cannot ping Server A (i.e., no reply received). Option C would affect both directions. Option D, duplex mismatch, would cause performance issues but not complete failure of one direction while the other works perfectly.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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