- A
Star
Why wrong: A star topology has a single point of failure at the central device.
- B
Bus
Why wrong: A bus topology is susceptible to failures along the single cable and lacks redundancy.
- C
Ring
Why wrong: A ring topology can provide redundancy with dual rings, but a single ring fails if one link breaks.
- D
Mesh
A mesh topology offers multiple redundant paths, providing the highest fault tolerance.
Question 37 of 520
N10-009 Networking Concepts Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of networking concepts. 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.
Which of the following network topologies provides the highest level of redundancy and fault tolerance?
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
✓
Mesh
A mesh topology provides the highest level of redundancy and fault tolerance because every node has a dedicated point-to-point connection to every other node. This means that if any single link or node fails, traffic can be immediately rerouted through multiple alternative paths without any single point of failure. In a full mesh, the number of links is n(n-1)/2, ensuring maximum path diversity and resilience.
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.
- ✗
Star
Why it's wrong here
A star topology has a single point of failure at the central device.
When this WOULD be correct
A star topology would be correct if the question asked for the topology that is easiest to manage and troubleshoot, or the most cost-effective for a small network with a single point of failure acceptable.
- ✗
Bus
Why it's wrong here
A bus topology is susceptible to failures along the single cable and lacks redundancy.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking for the most cost-effective topology for a small, temporary network with minimal devices and low reliability requirements, bus topology would be correct due to its simple cabling and low cost.
- ✗
Ring
Why it's wrong here
A ring topology can provide redundancy with dual rings, but a single ring fails if one link breaks.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking 'Which topology uses a token passing mechanism to prevent collisions?' would have ring as correct, as token ring networks rely on this method to control data transmission.
- ✓
Mesh
Why this is correct
A mesh topology offers multiple redundant paths, providing the highest fault tolerance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
✓MeshCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A mesh topology offers multiple redundant paths, providing the highest fault tolerance.
✗StarWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A star topology uses a central switch or hub; if that central device fails, the entire network goes down, so it does not provide the highest level of redundancy and fault tolerance compared to a mesh topology.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A star topology would be correct if the question asked for the topology that is easiest to manage and troubleshoot, or the most cost-effective for a small network with a single point of failure acceptable.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often think star is highly redundant because it isolates each device's failure, but they overlook the single point of failure at the central device.
✗BusWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A bus topology uses a single backbone cable; if the cable fails, the entire network goes down, offering no redundancy or fault tolerance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking for the most cost-effective topology for a small, temporary network with minimal devices and low reliability requirements, bus topology would be correct due to its simple cabling and low cost.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'simplicity' with 'reliability', assuming fewer components mean fewer failure points, but in a bus, the single cable is a critical single point of failure.
✗RingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
In a ring topology, each device is connected to exactly two neighbors, forming a single path for data. A break in the ring or a device failure disrupts the entire network, offering minimal fault tolerance compared to mesh.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking 'Which topology uses a token passing mechanism to prevent collisions?' would have ring as correct, as token ring networks rely on this method to control data transmission.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that because ring topologies can use dual rings for redundancy, they offer high fault tolerance, but standard single-ring topologies do not; the dual-ring variant is less common and not implied.
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 misconception that a ring topology (especially a dual-ring like FDDI) offers the highest fault tolerance, but candidates must remember that a full mesh provides more redundant paths and no single point of failure, whereas even a dual ring can be disrupted by multiple simultaneous failures.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, mesh topologies are often implemented using protocols like OSPF or IS-IS, which dynamically calculate the shortest path and can quickly converge around failures using link-state advertisements (LSAs). In real-world scenarios, mesh networks are used in critical infrastructure such as military communications or data center spine-leaf architectures, where the cost of additional cabling and ports is justified by the need for near-zero downtime. The trade-off is high cost and complexity, as each node requires a dedicated interface for every other node, making full meshes impractical beyond small deployments.
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 practitioner preparing for the N10-009 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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: Mesh — A mesh topology provides the highest level of redundancy and fault tolerance because every node has a dedicated point-to-point connection to every other node. This means that if any single link or node fails, traffic can be immediately rerouted through multiple alternative paths without any single point of failure. In a full mesh, the number of links is n(n-1)/2, ensuring maximum path diversity and resilience.
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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