N10-009 Network Operations Practice Question
A network technician needs to back up the configuration file of a managed switch to a central server on a regular basis. The switch supports a simple and widely used protocol for this purpose. Which of the following protocols should the technician use?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between TFTP for simple file transfers and SCP/SSH for secure transfers, leading candidates to choose SSH because they assume security is always required, but the question explicitly asks for a 'simple and widely used protocol' where security is not a stated requirement.
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: TFTP
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is the correct choice because it is a simple, lightweight protocol designed specifically for transferring configuration files to and from network devices like managed switches. It uses UDP port 69 and requires no authentication or complex session setup, making it ideal for automated backup scripts that run on a regular basis. While it lacks security features, its simplicity and widespread support in network equipment firmware make it the standard for this purpose.
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: TFTP
Why this is correct
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is a lightweight protocol specifically designed for simple, connectionless file transfers, operating over UDP port 69. It is widely supported by network devices like routers and switches as the standard method for automated configuration file backups and firmware upgrades due to its minimal overhead and ease of implementation. While lacking authentication or encryption, its simplicity makes it ideal for use within a trusted internal network environment.
- ✗
B: HTTP
Why it's wrong here
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is primarily used for serving web pages and web-based applications, typically over TCP port 80 or 443 (HTTPS). While some network devices offer a web-based graphical user interface (GUI) for manual configuration download, HTTP is not the standard protocol for programmatic or automated configuration file backups. Its design is optimized for client-server web interactions, not for simple, scriptable file transfers of device configurations.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for a protocol to remotely manage a switch's web interface or access a web-based configuration page, HTTP would be correct.
- ✗
C: SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is used for monitoring and managing network devices by collecting and exchanging management information. It allows network administrators to query device status, statistics, and set certain parameters using Management Information Bases (MIBs) and Object Identifiers (OIDs). However, SNMP is not designed for the direct transfer of entire configuration files; it provides data about the configuration but does not facilitate the backup of the file itself.
When this WOULD be correct
A network administrator needs to monitor the status and performance of network devices and receive alerts when thresholds are exceeded. SNMP would be the correct protocol for this purpose.
- ✗
D: SSH
Why it's wrong here
SSH (Secure Shell) provides a secure channel over an unsecured network by using strong encryption for remote command-line access, command execution, and secure tunneling. While SSH itself is not a file transfer protocol, it can securely encapsulate file transfer protocols like SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) or SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol). However, for automated configuration backups on internal, trusted networks, TFTP is often preferred by network devices due to its simpler implementation and lower resource overhead compared to the cryptographic complexities of SSH-based transfers.
When this WOULD be correct
A network technician needs to securely transfer a configuration file to a remote server over an untrusted network. Which protocol should be used? In this scenario, SSH (with SCP or SFTP) would be correct because it provides encryption and authentication.
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.
✓A: TFTPCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is a lightweight protocol specifically designed for simple, connectionless file transfers, operating over UDP port 69. It is widely supported by network devices like routers and switches as the standard method for automated configuration file backups and firmware upgrades due to its minimal overhead and ease of implementation. While lacking authentication or encryption, its simplicity makes it ideal for use within a trusted internal network environment.
✗B: HTTPWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
HTTP is not designed for simple, automated file transfers to a central server; it lacks the lightweight, connectionless nature of TFTP for backing up switch configurations.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for a protocol to remotely manage a switch's web interface or access a web-based configuration page, HTTP would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse HTTP with TFTP because both are application-layer protocols, and HTTP is commonly used for file transfers via downloads/uploads, but it is not optimized for network device backups.
✗C: SNMPWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SNMP is used for network management and monitoring, not for file transfer. It cannot back up configuration files; it only reads or writes management information.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network administrator needs to monitor the status and performance of network devices and receive alerts when thresholds are exceeded. SNMP would be the correct protocol for this purpose.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse SNMP's ability to read configuration data (via MIBs) with the ability to transfer entire configuration files, or think SNMP can be used for backup because it can modify device settings.
✗D: SSHWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SSH is used for secure remote administration and file transfer (via SCP/SFTP), but it is not the simple, widely used protocol for backing up switch configurations to a central server; TFTP is the standard for such tasks due to its simplicity and lack of authentication overhead.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network technician needs to securely transfer a configuration file to a remote server over an untrusted network. Which protocol should be used? In this scenario, SSH (with SCP or SFTP) would be correct because it provides encryption and authentication.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may associate SSH with network device management and assume it is suitable for configuration backups, overlooking that TFTP is the traditional, lightweight protocol for this purpose in local, trusted environments.
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?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Documentation and Diagrams
Key term
File Transfer Protocol
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between a client and a server over a TCP/IP network.
Key term
TFTP
TFTP, or Trivial File Transfer Protocol, is a simple, lightweight network protocol used to transfer files between devices without the security or advanced features of FTP.
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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.