The answer is to use SNMP traps instead of polling. This reduces CPU load on the switches because traps are push-based notifications sent only when a significant event occurs, such as a link status change or threshold crossing, whereas polling requires the switch to constantly process periodic GET requests from the NMS, consuming CPU cycles to retrieve interface statistics from the MIB. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of SNMP architecture and the trade-off between proactive polling and reactive traps; a common trap is assuming traps provide the same continuous data as polling, but they sacrifice granularity for efficiency. Remember the memory tip: “Polling pulls, trapping pushes—push saves CPU.”
N10-009 Network Operations Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. 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.
A network monitoring system uses SNMP to poll interface statistics from switches every 5 minutes. This polling is causing high CPU utilization on the switches. Which of the following actions would BEST reduce the CPU load on the switches while still providing monitoring data?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use SNMP traps instead of polling
SNMP traps are push-based notifications sent by the switch only when a significant event occurs (e.g., link up/down, threshold crossing), eliminating the need for the NMS to poll every 5 minutes. This reduces CPU load because the switch no longer processes periodic GET requests, which require CPU cycles to gather interface statistics from the MIB. Traps still provide monitoring data by alerting the NMS to changes, though they may not offer the same granularity as polling for all counters.
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.
✓
Use SNMP traps instead of polling
Why this is correct
Traps are unsolicited messages sent by the switch only when an event occurs, reducing the need for frequent polling.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the SNMP community string
Why it's wrong here
The community string is used for authentication, not for reducing polling frequency.
✗
Disable SNMP on unused interfaces
Why it's wrong here
This reduces the amount of data collected but does not change the polling interval or the CPU load from processing polls.
✗
Change the SNMP version to v1
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv1 is older and less secure, but it still requires polling and would not reduce CPU load.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'reducing the scope of polling' (like disabling unused interfaces) with 'eliminating the polling mechanism itself,' but the correct answer targets the fundamental shift from pull-based (polling) to push-based (traps) communication to reduce CPU load.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SNMP polling uses GET requests to read OIDs from the MIB, which requires the switch to process each request, fetch data from hardware counters, and format the response—this is CPU-intensive, especially with many interfaces. Traps (RFC 3418) are sent asynchronously via UDP port 162, and the switch only generates them when a pre-defined condition is met, such as a link state change or a rising threshold on ifInOctets, offloading the work from periodic polling. In real-world deployments, a hybrid approach is often used: traps for critical events and reduced polling intervals for trending data to balance CPU load and monitoring completeness.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Use SNMP traps instead of polling — SNMP traps are push-based notifications sent by the switch only when a significant event occurs (e.g., link up/down, threshold crossing), eliminating the need for the NMS to poll every 5 minutes. This reduces CPU load because the switch no longer processes periodic GET requests, which require CPU cycles to gather interface statistics from the MIB. Traps still provide monitoring data by alerting the NMS to changes, though they may not offer the same granularity as polling for all counters.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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