Quick Answer
The answer is to create a detailed change request or plan. This is the correct first step in change management for core switch replacement because best practices require documenting the scope, risk assessment, rollback procedures, and approval requirements before any physical work begins. Without this formal plan, stakeholders cannot review and authorize the change, which risks unplanned downtime and operational disruption. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the change management process flow, often appearing as a scenario where you must identify the initial action before implementation. A common trap is choosing "back up the configuration" or "notify users" first, but those come after the change request is approved. Remember the mnemonic "Plan Before You Pull" to reinforce that documentation and approval always precede any hardware swap.
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 replace a core switch that is nearing end-of-life. According to change management best practices, which step should the administrator perform FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
A
Why wrong: Updating the network diagram is important but should follow the planning and approval process.
B
Why wrong: A rollback plan is critical but should be developed as part of the change request, not as the first action.
C
Why wrong: Notifying users of the outage should occur after the change is approved and scheduled.
D
Submitting a change request is the first step in the formal change management process.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
D
Option D is correct because, according to change management best practices, the first step is to create a detailed change request or plan that documents the scope, risk assessment, rollback procedures, and approval requirements. This ensures all stakeholders review and authorize the replacement before any physical work begins, minimizing network downtime and operational impact.
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.
A
Why it's wrong here
Updating the network diagram is important but should follow the planning and approval process.
B
Why it's wrong here
A rollback plan is critical but should be developed as part of the change request, not as the first action.
C
Why it's wrong here
Notifying users of the outage should occur after the change is approved and scheduled.
D
Why this is correct
Submitting a change request is the first step in the formal change management process.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the urgency of replacing an end-of-life device with the need to bypass formal change management steps, assuming immediate action is required rather than following the documented approval process.
Detailed technical explanation
Change management frameworks like ITIL define a formal process that includes request, review, approval, implementation, and post-implementation review. For a core switch replacement, the change request must detail VLAN configurations, spanning-tree parameters (e.g., STP root bridge priority), routing protocols (e.g., OSPF area assignments), and failover mechanisms (e.g., HSRP/VRRP) to ensure seamless cutover. Skipping the initial request step can lead to configuration mismatches, such as incorrect MTU settings or missing ACLs, causing network instability.
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.
Network Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Network Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All N10-009 questions
520 questions across all exam domains
CompTIA Network+ N10-009 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
N10-009 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Networking Concepts.
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Implementation.
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Operations.
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Security.
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Troubleshooting.
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network+ network fundamentals.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Network Operations — This question tests Network Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: D — Option D is correct because, according to change management best practices, the first step is to create a detailed change request or plan that documents the scope, risk assessment, rollback procedures, and approval requirements. This ensures all stakeholders review and authorize the replacement before any physical work begins, minimizing network downtime and operational impact.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best", "first". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.