This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. 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 administrator wants to collect and analyze logs from multiple network devices in a central location. Which of the following protocols should be used?
Why wrong: SNMP is used for monitoring and managing devices by reading variables and sending traps, but it is not designed for bulk log collection. Log messages are better handled by syslog.
B
Syslog
Syslog is a protocol specifically for transporting log messages over IP networks. It allows devices to send logs to a centralized server for storage and analysis.
C
SMTP
Why wrong: SMTP is used for email transmission. While logs could be emailed, it is not efficient for bulk, real-time log collection and analysis.
D
FTP
Why wrong: FTP is used for file transfers. It could be used to transfer log files, but it is not a real-time logging protocol and requires manual or scheduled transfers.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Syslog
Syslog is the correct protocol because it is specifically designed for centralized log collection and analysis from network devices. It uses UDP port 514 (or TCP 6514 for reliable delivery) to send event messages from routers, switches, and firewalls to a central syslog server, enabling administrators to aggregate and review logs for troubleshooting and security monitoring.
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.
✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP is used for monitoring and managing devices by reading variables and sending traps, but it is not designed for bulk log collection. Log messages are better handled by syslog.
✓
Syslog
Why this is correct
Syslog is a protocol specifically for transporting log messages over IP networks. It allows devices to send logs to a centralized server for storage and analysis.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
SMTP
Why it's wrong here
SMTP is used for email transmission. While logs could be emailed, it is not efficient for bulk, real-time log collection and analysis.
✗
FTP
Why it's wrong here
FTP is used for file transfers. It could be used to transfer log files, but it is not a real-time logging protocol and requires manual or scheduled transfers.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse SNMP traps (which are unsolicited alerts about device conditions) with syslog messages, but SNMP traps are for specific events like link up/down, not for general log collection, while syslog is the standard for aggregating all log entries.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Syslog operates with a severity level (0-7) and facility codes to categorize messages, allowing administrators to filter critical events from informational ones. In real-world deployments, syslog can be configured with RFC 5424 format for structured data, and devices often use UDP for speed but may lose packets under load, prompting the use of TCP or TLS for reliability in high-security environments.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this N10-009 question in full detail.
Network Operations — This question tests Network Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Syslog — Syslog is the correct protocol because it is specifically designed for centralized log collection and analysis from network devices. It uses UDP port 514 (or TCP 6514 for reliable delivery) to send event messages from routers, switches, and firewalls to a central syslog server, enabling administrators to aggregate and review logs for troubleshooting and security monitoring.
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.
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Question Discussion
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