- A
A) DNS server configuration
Correct. DNS is responsible for resolving domain names to IP addresses. If DNS is intermittent, web pages will fail to load while other IP-based connectivity (like pinging the gateway) works.
- B
B) DHCP lease time
Why wrong: Incorrect. If the DHCP lease expired, the user would likely lose all network connectivity, not just web browsing. Pinging the gateway would also fail.
- C
C) Switch port speed and duplex settings
Why wrong: Incorrect. Speed/duplex mismatches usually cause complete or very frequent connectivity loss, not intermittent web browsing while pings succeed.
- D
D) Firewall rules blocking ICMP
Why wrong: Incorrect. The fact that pings succeed indicates ICMP is not blocked. The firewall rules related to HTTP/HTTPS traffic could be an issue, but DNS is a more common cause of intermittent web failures.
N10-009 Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network troubleshooting. 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 technician is troubleshooting intermittent internet access for a single user. The user’s workstation can ping the default gateway consistently, but web pages fail to load intermittently. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?
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
A) DNS server configuration
The user can ping the default gateway consistently, indicating Layer 3 connectivity to the local network is intact. However, intermittent web page failures suggest a name resolution issue, as DNS translates domain names to IP addresses. If the DNS server is misconfigured, unreachable, or returning stale records, the browser will fail to load pages even though basic IP connectivity works. Checking DNS server configuration is the logical next step because it directly addresses the symptom of name resolution failures.
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.
- ✓
A) DNS server configuration
- ✗
B) DHCP lease time
- ✗
C) Switch port speed and duplex settings
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Speed/duplex mismatches usually cause complete or very frequent connectivity loss, not intermittent web browsing while pings succeed.
- ✗
D) Firewall rules blocking ICMP
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between Layer 3 reachability (ping success) and application-layer failures (web browsing), leading candidates to incorrectly focus on DHCP or switch port settings instead of DNS.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DNS resolution relies on UDP port 53 for queries and TCP port 53 for zone transfers or large responses. Intermittent failures can occur if the DNS server is overloaded, the query times out due to firewall rules, or the client's DNS cache contains corrupted entries (flushable with `ipconfig /flushdns`). In enterprise environments, a single DNS server failure can cause partial outages, while secondary servers or round-robin configurations may mask the issue until the primary fails.
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Network Troubleshooting — This question tests Network Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A) DNS server configuration — The user can ping the default gateway consistently, indicating Layer 3 connectivity to the local network is intact. However, intermittent web page failures suggest a name resolution issue, as DNS translates domain names to IP addresses. If the DNS server is misconfigured, unreachable, or returning stale records, the browser will fail to load pages even though basic IP connectivity works. Checking DNS server configuration is the logical next step because it directly addresses the symptom of name resolution failures.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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