- A
Data Link layer
Why wrong: The Data Link layer (Layer 2) handles physical addressing (MAC addresses) and switching within a local network.
- B
Network layer
The Network layer (Layer 3) uses IP addresses for logical addressing and routing decisions.
- C
Transport layer
Why wrong: The Transport layer (Layer 4) provides reliable or unreliable delivery and segmentation, not routing.
- D
Physical layer
Why wrong: The Physical layer (Layer 1) defines hardware specifications like cables and signals.
Question 77 of 520
N10-009 Networking Concepts Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of networking concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
At which layer of the OSI model does logical addressing (e.g., IP addresses) and routing occur?
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
✓
Network layer
The Network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model is responsible for logical addressing, such as IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and for routing packets between different networks. Routers operate at this layer, using routing tables and protocols like OSPF, BGP, or static routes to determine the best path for data. This layer provides end-to-end delivery and handles packet fragmentation and reassembly when necessary.
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.
- ✗
Data Link layer
Why it's wrong here
The Data Link layer (Layer 2) handles physical addressing (MAC addresses) and switching within a local network.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct for a question asking: 'At which OSI layer does physical addressing (MAC addresses) and switching occur?' or 'Which layer is responsible for error detection in frames using CRC?'
- ✓
Network layer
Why this is correct
The Network layer (Layer 3) uses IP addresses for logical addressing and routing decisions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Transport layer
Why it's wrong here
The Transport layer (Layer 4) provides reliable or unreliable delivery and segmentation, not routing.
- ✗
Physical layer
Why it's wrong here
The Physical layer (Layer 1) defines hardware specifications like cables and signals.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking 'At which layer do physical network interface specifications (e.g., voltage levels, cable types, and data rates) reside?' would have the Physical layer as the correct 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.
✓Network layerCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The Network layer (Layer 3) uses IP addresses for logical addressing and routing decisions.
✗Data Link layerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Logical addressing (IP addresses) and routing are functions of the Network layer (Layer 3), not the Data Link layer (Layer 2), which handles physical addressing (MAC addresses) and frame forwarding within a local network.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct for a question asking: 'At which OSI layer does physical addressing (MAC addresses) and switching occur?' or 'Which layer is responsible for error detection in frames using CRC?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often confuse the Data Link layer's role in local network addressing (MAC) with the Network layer's global logical addressing (IP), especially when they think of 'addressing' broadly without distinguishing between logical and physical.
✗Transport layerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Transport layer (Layer 4) is responsible for end-to-end communication, segmentation, and flow control, not logical addressing or routing. IP addresses and routing are functions of the Network layer (Layer 3).
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking 'At which layer does port addressing (e.g., TCP/UDP ports) and segmentation occur?' would have the Transport layer as the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the Transport layer's role in managing connections (like TCP) with the Network layer's addressing, or mistakenly think that IP addresses are part of transport protocols.
✗Physical layerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Physical layer (Layer 1) is responsible for the transmission and reception of raw bit streams over a physical medium, not for logical addressing or routing.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking 'At which layer do physical network interface specifications (e.g., voltage levels, cable types, and data rates) reside?' would have the Physical layer as the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the Physical layer with the Network layer because both involve 'addresses' (MAC vs. IP) or think that routing requires physical connectivity.
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 often confuse the Network layer's logical addressing with the Data Link layer's MAC addressing, especially when they see 'addressing' in the question and default to Layer 2 without considering the 'routing' keyword that clearly points to Layer 3.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Logical addressing at the Network layer uses hierarchical IP addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1/24) that include a network portion and a host portion, enabling routers to aggregate routes and scale the internet. Routing protocols like OSPF use link-state advertisements (LSAs) to build a complete topology map, while BGP uses path-vector attributes to make policy-based routing decisions across autonomous systems. A subtle behavior is that routers perform a longest-prefix match on the destination IP address against the routing table to forward packets, which can lead to unexpected behavior if overlapping routes exist.
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 at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Network layer — The Network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model is responsible for logical addressing, such as IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and for routing packets between different networks. Routers operate at this layer, using routing tables and protocols like OSPF, BGP, or static routes to determine the best path for data. This layer provides end-to-end delivery and handles packet fragmentation and reassembly when necessary.
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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