- A
Physical topology diagram
Why wrong: A physical diagram shows physical connections and device locations, not IP addressing or VLAN assignments.
- B
Logical topology diagram
A logical diagram represents the network as seen by the OSI Layer 3, including IP subnets, VLANs, routing protocols, and logical connections.
- C
Rack elevation diagram
Why wrong: A rack elevation diagram shows the physical placement of devices in a rack, not logical network information.
- D
Cable management plan
Why wrong: A cable management plan documents the physical cabling infrastructure, not IP schemes or VLANs.
Question 331 of 520
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 create a diagram that shows the IP addressing scheme, VLAN assignments, and routing protocols used in the network. This diagram will be used for troubleshooting and future planning. Which type of documentation should the administrator create?
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
✓
Logical topology diagram
A logical topology diagram is correct because it documents the IP addressing scheme, VLAN assignments, and routing protocols—abstract elements that define how data flows through the network, independent of physical device locations. This type of diagram is essential for troubleshooting Layer 3 issues and planning changes to the network's logical design.
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.
- ✗
Physical topology diagram
Why it's wrong here
A physical diagram shows physical connections and device locations, not IP addressing or VLAN assignments.
When this WOULD be correct
A network administrator needs to document the physical locations of devices, cable runs, and hardware connections for troubleshooting physical connectivity issues or planning hardware upgrades.
- ✓
Logical topology diagram
Why this is correct
A logical diagram represents the network as seen by the OSI Layer 3, including IP subnets, VLANs, routing protocols, and logical connections.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Rack elevation diagram
Why it's wrong here
A rack elevation diagram shows the physical placement of devices in a rack, not logical network information.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks for a diagram to plan equipment placement, cooling, power distribution, or physical access in a data center, a rack elevation diagram is the correct choice.
- ✗
Cable management plan
Why it's wrong here
A cable management plan documents the physical cabling infrastructure, not IP schemes or VLANs.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks for documentation to organize and label physical cable runs in a data center or wiring closet to ensure neatness and facilitate maintenance.
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.
✓Logical topology diagramCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A logical diagram represents the network as seen by the OSI Layer 3, including IP subnets, VLANs, routing protocols, and logical connections.
✗Physical topology diagramWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A physical topology diagram shows hardware layout and cabling, not IP addressing, VLANs, or routing protocols, which are logical constructs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network administrator needs to document the physical locations of devices, cable runs, and hardware connections for troubleshooting physical connectivity issues or planning hardware upgrades.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'physical' with 'logical' documentation, assuming all network diagrams are physical, or they may think IP and VLAN info is tied to physical layout.
✗Rack elevation diagramWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A rack elevation diagram shows the physical placement of equipment in racks, not IP addressing, VLANs, or routing protocols.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks for a diagram to plan equipment placement, cooling, power distribution, or physical access in a data center, a rack elevation diagram is the correct choice.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'documentation' with physical layout, thinking a rack diagram includes network details, or they may not distinguish between physical and logical diagrams.
✗Cable management planWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A cable management plan documents physical cable routing and labeling, not IP addressing, VLANs, or routing protocols, which are logical network elements.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks for documentation to organize and label physical cable runs in a data center or wiring closet to ensure neatness and facilitate maintenance.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse cable management with network documentation, thinking it includes all aspects of network planning, but it is limited to physical cabling details.
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 N10-009 exam often tests the distinction between physical and logical documentation by describing a scenario that mixes physical and logical elements, leading candidates to mistakenly choose a physical topology diagram when the question explicitly asks for IP schemes and VLANs.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
A physical diagram shows physical connections and device locations, not IP addressing or VLAN assignments.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Logical topology diagrams often include OSPF areas, BGP AS numbers, VLAN IDs (802.1Q), and subnet masks (e.g., /24 or 255.255.255.0) to represent Layer 2 and Layer 3 segmentation. In a real-world scenario, a network engineer troubleshooting a routing loop would reference the logical diagram to verify OSPF neighbor relationships and redistribution points, not the physical cabling.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
What to study next
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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: Logical topology diagram — A logical topology diagram is correct because it documents the IP addressing scheme, VLAN assignments, and routing protocols—abstract elements that define how data flows through the network, independent of physical device locations. This type of diagram is essential for troubleshooting Layer 3 issues and planning changes to the network's logical design.
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
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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