- A
Send the packets directly to the server using ARP.
Why wrong: Incorrect. ARP is used to resolve MAC addresses within the same subnet; the workstation cannot directly reach a different subnet.
- B
Send the packets to the default gateway.
Correct. The workstation identifies the destination is on a different subnet and forwards all traffic to the default gateway for routing.
- C
Send the packets to the DNS server for resolution.
Why wrong: Incorrect. DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses, but the destination IP is already known.
- D
Drop the packets because the server is on a different network.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The workstation does not drop packets destined for different subnets; it relies on the default gateway to route them.
Question 395 of 520
N10-009 Networking Concepts Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of networking concepts. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 workstation with IP address 10.0.1.5/24 needs to communicate with a server at 10.0.2.10/24. The workstation's default gateway is configured as 10.0.1.1. Which of the following will the workstation do with the IP packets destined for the server?
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
✓
Send the packets to the default gateway.
The workstation's IP address (10.0.1.5/24) and the server's IP address (10.0.2.10/24) are on different subnets (10.0.1.0/24 vs. 10.0.2.0/24). When a host determines that the destination is not on the same local network, it will not attempt direct delivery via ARP. Instead, it forwards the IP packet to its configured default gateway (10.0.1.1), which then routes the packet toward the server's subnet.
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.
- ✗
Send the packets directly to the server using ARP.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. ARP is used to resolve MAC addresses within the same subnet; the workstation cannot directly reach a different subnet.
When this WOULD be correct
If both the workstation and server were on the same subnet (e.g., both 10.0.1.0/24), the workstation would use ARP to resolve the server's MAC address and send packets directly, without involving a gateway.
- ✓
Send the packets to the default gateway.
Why this is correct
Correct. The workstation identifies the destination is on a different subnet and forwards all traffic to the default gateway for routing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Send the packets to the DNS server for resolution.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses, but the destination IP is already known.
When this WOULD be correct
If the workstation needed to communicate with a server by its hostname (e.g., server.example.com) and did not have the IP address cached, it would send a DNS query to the DNS server to resolve the name before sending packets.
- ✗
Drop the packets because the server is on a different network.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The workstation does not drop packets destined for different subnets; it relies on the default gateway to route them.
When this WOULD be correct
If the workstation had no default gateway configured, or if the destination network was unreachable (e.g., no route), the workstation would drop the packets. For example, a host with IP 10.0.1.5/24 trying to reach 10.0.2.10/24 with no gateway configured.
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.
✓Send the packets to the default gateway.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. The workstation identifies the destination is on a different subnet and forwards all traffic to the default gateway for routing.
✗Send the packets directly to the server using ARP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The workstation's IP (10.0.1.5/24) and server's IP (10.0.2.10/24) are on different subnets (10.0.1.0/24 vs 10.0.2.0/24). The workstation must send packets to its default gateway (10.0.1.1) for routing, not directly to the server via ARP.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If both the workstation and server were on the same subnet (e.g., both 10.0.1.0/24), the workstation would use ARP to resolve the server's MAC address and send packets directly, without involving a gateway.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse ARP's role in local network communication with routing, assuming ARP can reach any IP regardless of subnet, or they may forget that ARP only works within the same broadcast domain.
✗Send the packets to the DNS server for resolution.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DNS resolution is used to translate domain names to IP addresses, but the workstation already knows the server's IP address (10.0.2.10). The question does not involve name resolution, so sending packets to the DNS server is irrelevant.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the workstation needed to communicate with a server by its hostname (e.g., server.example.com) and did not have the IP address cached, it would send a DNS query to the DNS server to resolve the name before sending packets.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the steps of network communication, thinking that DNS is always involved before sending packets, even when the destination IP is already known.
✗Drop the packets because the server is on a different network.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The workstation will not drop the packets because it can send them to the default gateway (10.0.1.1), which will route them to the server on the different subnet (10.0.2.0/24).
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the workstation had no default gateway configured, or if the destination network was unreachable (e.g., no route), the workstation would drop the packets. For example, a host with IP 10.0.1.5/24 trying to reach 10.0.2.10/24 with no gateway configured.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may incorrectly assume that hosts cannot communicate across subnets without a router, forgetting that the default gateway provides that function.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates mistakenly think a host can ARP for any IP address, even across subnets, or that a host will drop traffic to a different subnet without a router, when in fact the host relies on its default gateway to reach remote networks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The decision to use the default gateway is based on the host's routing table: the workstation performs a bitwise AND of its own IP and subnet mask (10.0.1.5 & 255.255.255.0 = 10.0.1.0) and compares it to the destination's network (10.0.2.10 & 255.255.255.0 = 10.0.2.0). Since the networks differ, the host selects the default route (0.0.0.0/0 via 10.0.1.1). The workstation then uses ARP to resolve the MAC address of the default gateway (10.0.1.1), not the server, and encapsulates the IP packet in a frame destined for the gateway's MAC.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Visual reference
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?
Networking Concepts — This question tests Networking Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Send the packets to the default gateway. — The workstation's IP address (10.0.1.5/24) and the server's IP address (10.0.2.10/24) are on different subnets (10.0.1.0/24 vs. 10.0.2.0/24). When a host determines that the destination is not on the same local network, it will not attempt direct delivery via ARP. Instead, it forwards the IP packet to its configured default gateway (10.0.1.1), which then routes the packet toward the server's subnet.
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.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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