This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network implementation. 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 engineer needs to connect two devices that are 150 meters apart with a 10 Gbps link. Which cabling type is most suitable?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Single-mode fiber
Single-mode fiber (SMF) is the correct choice because it supports 10 Gbps transmission over distances well beyond 150 meters, typically up to 10 km or more using 10GBASE-LR optics. In contrast, copper cabling like Cat6a or Cat7 is limited to 100 meters for 10GBASE-T, and multimode fiber (MMF) with 10GBASE-SR is limited to about 300-400 meters depending on the fiber grade (e.g., OM3/OM4), but SMF provides the most reliable and future-proof solution for this distance.
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.
✗
Cat6a UTP
Why it's wrong here
Cat6a supports 10 Gbps up to 100 meters, but 150 meters exceeds that distance.
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Cat7 STP
Why it's wrong here
Cat7 also has a distance limitation of 100 meters for 10 Gbps.
✓
Single-mode fiber
Why this is correct
Single-mode fiber supports 10 Gbps over distances of many kilometers, making it ideal for a 150-meter link.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Multimode fiber
Why it's wrong here
Multimode fiber (e.g., OM3) supports 10 Gbps up to 300 meters, but single-mode is more commonly used for this distance and future-proofing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume multimode fiber is sufficient for any distance under 300 meters, but the exam emphasizes 'most suitable' based on scalability and performance, making single-mode fiber the better choice even for shorter runs when future-proofing is considered.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Single-mode fiber uses a 9/125 micron core and operates at 1310 nm or 1550 nm wavelengths, enabling lower modal dispersion and longer reach compared to multimode fiber. For 10GBASE-LR, the maximum distance is 10 km, but even at 150 meters, SMF provides a cleaner signal with less jitter, which is critical in data center interconnects or campus backbones where future speed upgrades to 25G, 40G, or 100G are common. Real-world scenarios often involve using SMF for runs over 100 meters to avoid signal degradation and to standardize on a single fiber type across the network.
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 Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Single-mode fiber — Single-mode fiber (SMF) is the correct choice because it supports 10 Gbps transmission over distances well beyond 150 meters, typically up to 10 km or more using 10GBASE-LR optics. In contrast, copper cabling like Cat6a or Cat7 is limited to 100 meters for 10GBASE-T, and multimode fiber (MMF) with 10GBASE-SR is limited to about 300-400 meters depending on the fiber grade (e.g., OM3/OM4), but SMF provides the most reliable and future-proof solution for this distance.
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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