N10-009 Network Operations Practice Question
A network administrator needs to ensure high availability for a critical server that has two network interfaces connected to two different switches. Which configuration should be implemented to provide failover and load balancing at the network layer?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse Layer 2 link aggregation (LACP) with Layer 3 first-hop redundancy protocols (VRRP/HSRP). While VRRP/HSRP provide gateway failover, they are not designed for server NIC teaming. The server scenario requires a solution that operates at the interface level, making LACP the correct choice.
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
✓
Link aggregation (LACP)
Link Aggregation (LACP) allows multiple physical network interfaces to be combined into a single logical link, providing both failover and load balancing at Layer 2. In this scenario, the server's two NICs are connected to two different switches; LACP can be configured across the two switches (if they support Multi-chassis Link Aggregation) or the NICs can be set up in an active/standby team for failover. This satisfies the requirement for high availability and load balancing at the network layer (Layer 2/3 boundary). Virtual IP protocols like VRRP/HSRP are designed for gateway redundancy, not for server NIC failover.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Link aggregation (LACP)
Why this is correct
Correct. LACP combines multiple links into one logical link, providing both redundancy and load balancing at Layer 2, which is appropriate for a server with two NICs connected to separate switches.
- ✗
Virtual IP (VRRP/HSRP)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. VRRP/HSRP provide first-hop gateway redundancy for routers, not for server NIC failover. They operate at Layer 3 and would require the server to act as a router, which is not the intended use.
- ✗
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. STP prevents loops in a switched network but does not provide load balancing or server failover.
When this WOULD be correct
In a switched network with redundant paths, STP is correct when the question asks for preventing broadcast storms and MAC table instability due to loops, without requiring Layer 3 redundancy.
- ✗
Port mirroring
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Port mirroring duplicates traffic for monitoring purposes and does not offer any failover or load balancing capability.
When this WOULD be correct
A network administrator needs to capture and analyze traffic from a critical server for troubleshooting or security monitoring. Port mirroring would be the correct answer when the question asks about duplicating traffic to a monitoring device without affecting the live network.
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.
✓Link aggregation (LACP)Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. LACP combines multiple links into one logical link, providing both redundancy and load balancing at Layer 2, which is appropriate for a server with two NICs connected to separate switches.
✗Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
STP prevents loops at Layer 2, not failover or load balancing at Layer 3. It does not provide IP-level redundancy for a server with multiple interfaces.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a switched network with redundant paths, STP is correct when the question asks for preventing broadcast storms and MAC table instability due to loops, without requiring Layer 3 redundancy.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates confuse loop prevention with failover, thinking STP's path redundancy also provides IP failover, but STP operates only at Layer 2 and does not handle IP address failover.
✗Port mirroringWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Port mirroring is used for traffic monitoring and analysis, not for failover or load balancing. It duplicates packets from one port to another for inspection, but does not provide high availability or distribute traffic across interfaces.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network administrator needs to capture and analyze traffic from a critical server for troubleshooting or security monitoring. Port mirroring would be the correct answer when the question asks about duplicating traffic to a monitoring device without affecting the live network.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse port mirroring with link aggregation or failover mechanisms, thinking that duplicating traffic could somehow provide redundancy or load distribution, but it only copies packets for observation.
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?”
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Documentation and Diagrams
Key term
Virtual IP
A Virtual IP (VIP) is a floating IP address shared among multiple servers or network devices to provide high availability and fault tolerance without being tied to a single physical interface.
Key term
Link Aggregation Control Protocol
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is a standard protocol that automatically bundles multiple physical network links into a single logical link to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.
About these practice questions
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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.