The answer is star topology, because it is the only logical topology that provides true fault isolation at the workstation level. In a star topology, each device connects to a central switch or hub via its own dedicated cable, so a single cable failure will only disrupt the one connected workstation, leaving the other 39 devices fully operational. This design directly addresses the Network+ N10-009 exam objective on network topologies and fault tolerance, often tested with scenario-based questions where you must choose a topology that limits the blast radius of a physical failure. A common trap is confusing the star’s physical layout with a bus or ring topology, where a single break can take down multiple devices or the entire segment. Remember the memory tip: “One star, one cable, one casualty” — in a star, a cable failure is always isolated to a single node.
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.
A network administrator is designing a small office network with 40 workstations. The design must ensure that a single cable failure only affects the connected workstation. Which logical topology should the administrator implement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Star
A star topology connects each workstation directly to a central switch or hub, so a cable failure only affects the single connected workstation, not the rest of the network. This meets the requirement for fault isolation at the workstation level, which is the core design goal in a small office with 40 devices.
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 this is correct
In a star topology, each device has a dedicated cable to a central switch, so a cable failure only affects that single device.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ring
Why it's wrong here
In a ring topology, a single cable break can disrupt the entire ring unless redundant paths or resilient protocols are used.
✗
Bus
Why it's wrong here
In a bus topology, all devices share a single cable. A break anywhere in the backbone can cause the entire segment to fail.
✗
Mesh
Why it's wrong here
A full mesh provides high fault tolerance but requires many cables and is expensive and unnecessary for a small office.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between physical and logical topology—candidates may confuse a physical star with a logical bus (e.g., early Ethernet using a hub) and incorrectly assume a cable failure only affects one workstation, but a hub-based star is logically a bus where a collision domain spans all ports, though the physical cable break still isolates only the connected device.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a star topology, the central device (typically a Layer 2 switch) uses MAC address tables to forward frames only to the destination port, so a cable fault on one access port only removes that single host from the forwarding table. The switch's Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) or Rapid PVST+ ensures loop-free paths, but a simple cable break on an edge port does not trigger a topology change that affects other workstations. In a real-world small office, this design also simplifies troubleshooting because link LEDs and port statistics immediately identify the failed cable.
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.
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: Star — A star topology connects each workstation directly to a central switch or hub, so a cable failure only affects the single connected workstation, not the rest of the network. This meets the requirement for fault isolation at the workstation level, which is the core design goal in a small office with 40 devices.
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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