Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A small office uses a wireless router that provides both wired and wireless connectivity. The router's LAN IP is 192.168.1.1. A new printer with a static IP of 192.168.1.50 cannot be reached from a laptop obtaining an IP via DHCP. The laptop's IP is 192.168.1.100. 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
Distractor review
The printer is on a different VLAN
In a small office with a simple wireless router, VLANs are rarely configured. Even if VLANs were used, the router would need to route between them, and the printer's IP 192.168.1.50 suggests the same VLAN as the laptop (192.168.1.100).
B
Best answer
The subnet mask is incorrect
If the printer is configured with a static subnet mask that is not /24 (e.g., /28 or /25), it will calculate that the laptop's IP is outside its local subnet. It will then try to send traffic to the default gateway instead of directly to the laptop, and if the gateway does not forward it (or the printer's gateway is wrong), communication fails.
C
Distractor review
The default gateway is misconfigured
For local subnet communication (same network), the default gateway is not used. Devices use ARP to find each other directly. A misconfigured gateway on the printer would only affect traffic to other subnets.
D
Distractor review
The DHCP scope is exhausted
The laptop obtained an IP (192.168.1.100), so the DHCP scope is not exhausted. DHCP scope exhaustion would prevent new devices from getting IP addresses, but the printer has a static IP, so it is not affected by DHCP.
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: The subnet mask is incorrect — Since both devices have IPs in the same subnet (assuming a default /24 mask), direct communication should work. However, if the printer has a different subnet mask (e.g., /28 instead of /24), it would think the laptop is on a different network and would not attempt local ARP, causing a failure. The other options are less likely because the router is the default gateway, but for local traffic the gateway is not needed; VLANs don't apply to a simple router; and DHCP scope exhaustion would give the laptop a different IP or none.
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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