This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. 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 network administrator is reviewing syslog messages generated by a switch. The administrator wants to see only the most critical events, such as system failures. Which syslog severity level should be configured as the filter?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
0 – Emergency
Syslog severity level 0 (Emergency) is the highest severity, indicating system-level failures that render the switch unusable. By filtering for level 0, the administrator ensures only the most critical events, such as kernel panics or hardware failures, are displayed, excluding all less severe messages.
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.
✓
0 – Emergency
Why this is correct
Emergency messages indicate the system is unusable and require immediate attention.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
1 – Alert
Why it's wrong here
Alert messages indicate immediate action is needed but are not as critical as Emergency.
✗
4 – Warning
Why it's wrong here
Warning messages indicate potential issues but are not as urgent as Emergency.
✗
7 – Debug
Why it's wrong here
Debug messages are used for detailed troubleshooting and contain low-severity information.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that 'Alert' (level 1) is the highest severity because of its name, but Emergency (level 0) is actually the most critical per the syslog standard.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Syslog severity levels are defined in RFC 5424, with 0 (Emergency) being the most critical and 7 (Debug) the least. On Cisco switches, the 'logging trap' command filters messages by severity; setting it to 0 captures only Emergency-level messages, while setting it to a higher number (e.g., 4) includes all levels from 0 to that number. In real-world scenarios, filtering to level 0 is rarely used for continuous monitoring because it excludes alerts that require attention, but it is ideal for isolating catastrophic failures during troubleshooting.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this N10-009 question in full detail.
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: 0 – Emergency — Syslog severity level 0 (Emergency) is the highest severity, indicating system-level failures that render the switch unusable. By filtering for level 0, the administrator ensures only the most critical events, such as kernel panics or hardware failures, are displayed, excluding all less severe messages.
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.
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Question Discussion
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