The correct next step is to check the router’s default route configuration. Since the user can successfully ping the default gateway at 192.168.1.1, local Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity is verified, and the PC’s IP settings are correct. The failure to reach 8.8.8.8 means the router lacks a path to external networks, which is normally provided by a default route (0.0.0.0/0) pointing to the ISP’s next-hop. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this scenario tests your ability to isolate routing issues from local connectivity problems—a common trap is to waste time reconfiguring the client when the router itself is missing its gateway of last resort. Remember: if you can ping the gateway but not the internet, the problem is almost always upstream. A useful memory tip is “Local works, remote fails? Check the default route that sails.”
N10-009 Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network troubleshooting. 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 user can ping the default gateway (192.168.1.1) but cannot access the internet (e.g., ping 8.8.8.8 fails). The user's IP is correctly configured as 192.168.1.10/24. What should the technician check next?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check the router's default route configuration
Since the user can ping the default gateway (192.168.1.1), Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity within the local subnet is working, and the PC's IP configuration is correct. The failure to reach 8.8.8.8 indicates that the router does not have a valid path to external networks, which is typically provided by a default route (0.0.0.0/0). Checking the router's default route configuration is the logical next step because without it, the router cannot forward traffic destined for non-local networks.
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.
✗
Check the PC's DNS server settings
Why it's wrong here
DNS resolution is not involved when pinging an IP address directly.
✗
Verify the subnet mask on the PC
Why it's wrong here
The subnet mask is already correct as local traffic works.
✓
Check the router's default route configuration
Why this is correct
The router must have a default route to forward traffic to the internet. Without it, packets destined for external networks will be dropped.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Examine the switch port VLAN assignment
Why it's wrong here
The switch port VLAN is correct because the user can reach the default gateway.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between local connectivity (pinging the gateway) and external connectivity (pinging a public IP), where candidates mistakenly jump to DNS or subnet mask issues instead of recognizing the router's lack of a default route as the root cause.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The default route on a router is a static or dynamic entry with a destination of 0.0.0.0/0 and a next-hop IP address pointing toward the ISP. Without this route, the router will drop any packet destined for an IP outside its directly connected networks, even if the PC's default gateway is reachable. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured or missing default route is a common cause of 'no internet' issues, and can be verified with commands like 'show ip route' or 'tracert' to see where the path stops.
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.
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 Troubleshooting — This question tests Network Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Check the router's default route configuration — Since the user can ping the default gateway (192.168.1.1), Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity within the local subnet is working, and the PC's IP configuration is correct. The failure to reach 8.8.8.8 indicates that the router does not have a valid path to external networks, which is typically provided by a default route (0.0.0.0/0). Checking the router's default route configuration is the logical next step because without it, the router cannot forward traffic destined for non-local networks.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Users at a remote branch office cannot access internet resources. The branch's edge router shows that the WAN interface is up. The default route is configured to point to next-hop 192.0.2.2, but the admin can successfully ping 192.0.2.1 from the router. What is the most likely cause?
hard
A.The router's WAN interface is configured with the wrong subnet mask
✓ B.The default route is missing or has an incorrect next-hop IP
C.NAT is not configured on the router
D.A firewall on the router is blocking outbound traffic
Why B: The correct answer is B because the admin can ping 192.0.2.1 (the WAN interface IP) but not reach 192.0.2.2 (the next-hop), indicating that the default route is either missing or misconfigured. Since the WAN interface is up and the local IP is reachable, the issue is with the routing table entry pointing to the next-hop, not with the interface or subnet mask. Without a valid default route, the router cannot forward traffic destined for the internet.
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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.
Question Discussion
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