This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 administrator needs to be notified immediately when the CPU utilization on a core router exceeds 90%. Which SNMP mechanism should be configured on the router?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
SNMP get
Why wrong: SNMP get is a request initiated by the NMS to retrieve a value, not an unsolicited alert mechanism.
SNMP trap
Traps are sent by the device to the NMS when conditions such as high CPU utilization are met.
SNMP walk
Why wrong: SNMP walk is a method to traverse a set of OIDs, not an alert mechanism.
SNMP set
Why wrong: SNMP set is used to modify configuration parameters, not to send alerts.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SNMP trap
B is correct because SNMP traps are unsolicited notifications sent from an SNMP agent (the router) to the manager when a predefined condition occurs, such as CPU utilization exceeding 90%. This allows immediate notification without waiting for the manager to poll, which is essential for urgent alerts.
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.
SNMP get
Why it's wrong here
SNMP get is a request initiated by the NMS to retrieve a value, not an unsolicited alert mechanism.
SNMP trap
Why this is correct
Traps are sent by the device to the NMS when conditions such as high CPU utilization are met.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SNMP walk
Why it's wrong here
SNMP walk is a method to traverse a set of OIDs, not an alert mechanism.
SNMP set
Why it's wrong here
SNMP set is used to modify configuration parameters, not to send alerts.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between polling (get/walk) and event-driven notifications (trap/inform), and the trap here is that candidates confuse SNMP get with a proactive alert mechanism, forgetting that get requires the manager to initiate the request.
Detailed technical explanation
SNMP traps are defined in RFC 1157 and use UDP port 162 to deliver event-driven messages from agent to manager. When configuring a trap on a Cisco router, you set an SNMP server host (e.g., `snmp-server host 192.168.1.100 traps`) and enable the specific trap type (e.g., `snmp-server enable traps cpu threshold`). The router monitors CPU utilization via the CISCO-PROCESS-MIB and sends a trap when the rising threshold (e.g., 90%) is crossed, ensuring sub-second notification without manager polling overhead.
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: SNMP trap — B is correct because SNMP traps are unsolicited notifications sent from an SNMP agent (the router) to the manager when a predefined condition occurs, such as CPU utilization exceeding 90%. This allows immediate notification without waiting for the manager to poll, which is essential for urgent alerts.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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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