N10-009 Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that their laptop is connected to the corporate Wi-Fi network but cannot access the internet. Other users in the same area are able to access the internet without issues. The laptop shows a valid IP address of 192.168.1.25/24 and the default gateway is 192.168.1.1. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume a valid IP address and gateway mean full internet connectivity, overlooking that DNS misconfiguration is a classic isolated symptom where other users work fine.
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
✓
DNS server configuration on the laptop
Since the laptop has a valid IP address (192.168.1.25/24) and default gateway (192.168.1.1), and other users can access the internet, the issue is isolated to this laptop. A common cause is incorrect or missing DNS server configuration, which prevents domain name resolution even though IP-level connectivity exists. The technician should verify the DNS server addresses in the laptop's IPv4 settings or run 'nslookup' to confirm resolution.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
DNS server configuration on the laptop
Why this is correct
A misconfigured DNS server address on the laptop prevents it from translating human-readable domain names into numerical IP addresses, which are necessary for network communication. Even if the laptop has a valid IP address and physical connectivity to the Wi-Fi network, it cannot locate external resources like websites or internal servers by name. This specific issue often manifests as "no internet access" despite being connected, affecting only the device with the incorrect DNS settings while other network functions might remain operational.
- ✗
DHCP server lease exhaustion
Why it's wrong here
DHCP server lease exhaustion occurs when the DHCP server has no available IP addresses left in its scope to assign to new or renewing clients. If this were the case, the laptop would likely fail to obtain an IP address entirely, or its existing lease would expire without renewal, preventing any network connectivity. Since the laptop is connected and has a valid IP address, and other users are functioning normally, DHCP lease exhaustion is not the underlying problem.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician finds that multiple users in the same area cannot obtain IP addresses or receive APIPA addresses. The DHCP server logs show no available leases. In this scenario, DHCP server lease exhaustion is the correct next check.
- ✗
Access point channel utilization
Why it's wrong here
High access point channel utilization indicates significant congestion or interference on the wireless frequency being used, leading to reduced throughput and increased latency for all devices connected to that channel. While this can severely degrade Wi-Fi performance, it would typically impact multiple users or all devices on the affected AP, not just an isolated laptop experiencing connectivity issues while others are working normally. Therefore, it's not the primary cause for a single user's problem.
When this WOULD be correct
When multiple users in the same area report slow or intermittent connectivity, and the technician suspects RF interference or congestion on the access point's channel.
- ✗
Switch port status on the distribution switch
Why it's wrong here
The status of a switch port on a distribution switch primarily concerns wired connections, indicating whether a physical Ethernet cable connected to that port is active and passing traffic. Since the laptop is connected to the corporate network via Wi-Fi, its network access is mediated by a wireless access point, not a direct wired connection to a distribution switch port. Therefore, the operational status of a specific switch port on a distribution switch is irrelevant to the laptop's wireless connectivity issue.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician would check switch port status on the distribution switch when multiple users in the same area cannot access the network or internet, and the access point shows no issues, suggesting a downstream switch failure or misconfiguration.
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.
✓DNS server configuration on the laptopCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A misconfigured DNS server address on the laptop prevents it from translating human-readable domain names into numerical IP addresses, which are necessary for network communication. Even if the laptop has a valid IP address and physical connectivity to the Wi-Fi network, it cannot locate external resources like websites or internal servers by name. This specific issue often manifests as "no internet access" despite being connected, affecting only the device with the incorrect DNS settings while other network functions might remain operational.
✗DHCP server lease exhaustionWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The laptop has a valid IP address (192.168.1.25/24) and other users can access the internet, so DHCP lease exhaustion is unlikely. The issue is isolated to one device, pointing to a client-side problem like DNS.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician finds that multiple users in the same area cannot obtain IP addresses or receive APIPA addresses. The DHCP server logs show no available leases. In this scenario, DHCP server lease exhaustion is the correct next check.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that any network connectivity issue could be due to DHCP problems, but the valid IP address and other users' connectivity rule out DHCP exhaustion here.
✗Access point channel utilizationWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The issue is isolated to a single laptop with a valid IP and gateway, so channel utilization affecting all users is not the cause.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When multiple users in the same area report slow or intermittent connectivity, and the technician suspects RF interference or congestion on the access point's channel.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Wi-Fi issues are always related to radio frequency problems, overlooking client-specific configuration errors like DNS.
✗Switch port status on the distribution switchWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The issue is isolated to one laptop with a valid IP and gateway, so the switch port on the distribution switch is unlikely to be the cause; a port problem would affect multiple users or cause complete connectivity loss.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician would check switch port status on the distribution switch when multiple users in the same area cannot access the network or internet, and the access point shows no issues, suggesting a downstream switch failure or misconfiguration.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that since the laptop is connected via Wi-Fi, the switch port is still part of the path and could be faulty, overlooking that the problem is isolated to one device with correct IP settings.
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?”
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Troubleshoot: Network Connectivity
Key term
Default gateway
A default gateway is a network device, typically a router, that acts as the exit point for traffic from a local network to other networks, including the internet.
Key term
IPv4
IPv4 is the fourth version of the Internet Protocol, a set of rules that assigns unique numerical addresses to devices so they can communicate over networks like the internet.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.