N10-009 Network Implementation Practice Question
A network administrator needs to connect two switches that are 80 meters apart using UTP cabling and achieve 1 Gbps speed. The administrator has Cat5e and Cat6 cables available. Which standard should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers choose 10GBASE-T because they see Cat6 available, forgetting that Cat6 only supports 10GBASE-T up to 55 meters and Cat5e not at all, while 1000BASE-T is the correct match for 1 Gbps over UTP at 80 meters.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
1000BASE-T
1000BASE-T (IEEE 802.3ab) is the correct standard because it supports 1 Gbps over Cat5e or Cat6 UTP cabling at distances up to 100 meters. With 80 meters between switches, both cable types are well within the 100-meter reach, and 1000BASE-T is designed specifically for twisted-pair copper at this speed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
1000BASE-T
Why this is correct
1000BASE-T is the appropriate standard for this scenario because it delivers a Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) connection over unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling. It reliably supports distances up to 100 meters, making it perfectly suitable for the 80-meter requirement. This standard typically utilizes all four twisted pairs within Cat5e or Cat6 cables for full-duplex operation.
- ✗
1000BASE-LX
Why it's wrong here
1000BASE-LX is an incorrect choice because it is a Gigabit Ethernet standard designed exclusively for fiber optic cabling, specifically single-mode fiber (SMF). The question explicitly states the use of UTP cabling, making this standard incompatible with the required physical medium. While it offers extended distance capabilities, its reliance on optical fiber means it cannot be implemented with copper twisted-pair cables.
When this WOULD be correct
1000BASE-LX would be correct if the question required connecting two switches over a distance greater than 100 meters (e.g., 500 meters) using fiber optic cabling, or if the environment had high electromagnetic interference.
- ✗
10GBASE-T
Why it's wrong here
10GBASE-T, while operating over UTP cabling, is an excessive and potentially costly solution for a 1 Gbps requirement. This standard is designed for 10 Gigabit Ethernet speeds and typically necessitates higher-grade cabling like Cat6a or Cat7 to achieve its full potential over distances up to 100 meters. Implementing 10GBASE-T would introduce unnecessary complexity, higher equipment costs, and increased power consumption compared to the sufficient 1000BASE-T.
When this WOULD be correct
A network administrator needs to connect two switches 80 meters apart using Cat6a or Cat7 cabling and achieve 10 Gbps speed. The correct standard would be 10GBASE-T.
- ✗
100BASE-TX
Why it's wrong here
100BASE-TX is unsuitable because it only supports Fast Ethernet speeds of 100 Mbps, which is significantly slower than the desired Gigabit (1 Gbps) performance implied for modern network connections. While it operates over UTP cabling and supports distances up to 100 meters, its limited bandwidth makes it an inadequate choice for a new connection requiring higher throughput. This standard primarily uses two of the four twisted pairs in a Cat5 or Cat5e cable.
When this WOULD be correct
A network administrator needs to connect two switches 80 meters apart using UTP cabling, but the budget only allows for Cat5e cables and the required speed is 100 Mbps. In that case, 100BASE-TX would be the correct standard.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓1000BASE-TCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
1000BASE-T is the appropriate standard for this scenario because it delivers a Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) connection over unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling. It reliably supports distances up to 100 meters, making it perfectly suitable for the 80-meter requirement. This standard typically utilizes all four twisted pairs within Cat5e or Cat6 cables for full-duplex operation.
✗1000BASE-LXWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
1000BASE-LX uses single-mode or multimode fiber optic cabling, not UTP. The question specifies UTP cabling, so this standard is incompatible.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
1000BASE-LX would be correct if the question required connecting two switches over a distance greater than 100 meters (e.g., 500 meters) using fiber optic cabling, or if the environment had high electromagnetic interference.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 1000BASE-LX as a copper standard due to the '1000' prefix, or think it supports UTP because of the 'BASE' designation, overlooking the 'LX' indicating long-wavelength fiber.
✗10GBASE-TWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
10GBASE-T requires Cat6a or higher cabling for distances up to 100 meters at 10 Gbps; Cat5e and Cat6 cables are insufficient for 10GBASE-T at 80 meters, and the question specifies 1 Gbps speed, not 10 Gbps.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network administrator needs to connect two switches 80 meters apart using Cat6a or Cat7 cabling and achieve 10 Gbps speed. The correct standard would be 10GBASE-T.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the higher speed capability of Cat6 with supporting 10GBASE-T, or think that since Cat6 is available, a 10 Gbps standard could be used, overlooking the distance and cable rating requirements.
✗100BASE-TXWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
100BASE-TX only supports 100 Mbps, not the required 1 Gbps speed, and is insufficient for the 80-meter distance at 1 Gbps.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network administrator needs to connect two switches 80 meters apart using UTP cabling, but the budget only allows for Cat5e cables and the required speed is 100 Mbps. In that case, 100BASE-TX would be the correct standard.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 100BASE-TX with 1000BASE-T due to similar naming, or mistakenly think that Cat5e is only rated for 100 Mbps, not realizing it supports 1000BASE-T up to 100 meters.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Physical Network Infrastructure
Key term
Unshielded Twisted Pair
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) is a type of copper cabling used in Ethernet networks, where pairs of wires are twisted together to reduce electrical interference, without additional metallic shielding.
Key term
UTP
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) is a copper cabling type with pairs of twisted wires and no shielding, used for Ethernet networks.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.