- A
A network diagram showing the current topology.
Why wrong: A network diagram is useful for reference but is not the formal document that seeks approval for a change. It does not include details about the change itself.
- B
An incident report detailing previous firmware issues.
Why wrong: An incident report documents past problems, not planned changes. It is not part of the change control process for a scheduled upgrade.
- C
A change request form with a rollback plan and approval signatures.
A change request is the standard document used in change management. It includes the scope, risk assessment, implementation steps, rollback plan, and requires approval from the change board.
- D
A baseline performance report from the current firmware version.
Why wrong: A baseline report may be used to compare after the upgrade, but it is not the document that authorizes the change.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is a change request form with a rollback plan and approval signatures. This document is essential because it formalizes the ITIL change management process, requiring you to assess risks, define a clear rollback procedure to revert the core switch to its previous state if the firmware upgrade fails, and obtain documented authorization before touching production equipment. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of change management best practices, often appearing in questions about maintenance windows or scheduled upgrades; a common trap is choosing a simple "work order" or "ticket" instead of the formal change request that includes a rollback plan. To remember this, think of the mnemonic "CAR" — Change request, Approval, Rollback — because without all three, you are not following best practices for minimizing network downtime.
N10-009 Network Operations Practice Question
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 needs to schedule a firmware upgrade on a core switch during the next maintenance window. According to best practices, which document should the administrator create and have approved before making the change?
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.
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
A change request form with a rollback plan and approval signatures.
Option C is correct because a change request form with a rollback plan and approval signatures ensures that the firmware upgrade follows the ITIL change management process, which is a best practice for network operations. This document provides a structured approach to assess risks, obtain authorization, and define steps to revert the switch to its previous state if the upgrade fails, minimizing downtime and impact on the network.
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.
- ✗
A network diagram showing the current topology.
Why it's wrong here
A network diagram is useful for reference but is not the formal document that seeks approval for a change. It does not include details about the change itself.
- ✗
An incident report detailing previous firmware issues.
Why it's wrong here
An incident report documents past problems, not planned changes. It is not part of the change control process for a scheduled upgrade.
- ✓
A change request form with a rollback plan and approval signatures.
Why this is correct
A change request is the standard document used in change management. It includes the scope, risk assessment, implementation steps, rollback plan, and requires approval from the change board.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A baseline performance report from the current firmware version.
Why it's wrong here
A baseline report may be used to compare after the upgrade, but it is not the document that authorizes the change.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse operational documents (like diagrams or incident reports) with the formal change management documentation required by ITIL, leading them to overlook the need for a change request with a rollback plan and approval signatures.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In enterprise environments, firmware upgrades on core switches often involve updating the boot loader (e.g., ROMMON) or the IOS image stored in flash memory. A rollback plan in the change request should specify the exact commands to revert to the previous image (e.g., using 'boot system flash:/old-image.bin' and reloading) and include a backup of the running configuration, as a failed upgrade could leave the switch in a non-functional state requiring console recovery.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
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: A change request form with a rollback plan and approval signatures. — Option C is correct because a change request form with a rollback plan and approval signatures ensures that the firmware upgrade follows the ITIL change management process, which is a best practice for network operations. This document provides a structured approach to assess risks, obtain authorization, and define steps to revert the switch to its previous state if the upgrade fails, minimizing downtime and impact on the network.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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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