A user reports that they can access the internet but cannot access the company's internal web application at https://intranet.company.local. The technician can ping the server's IP address (192.168.10.50) successfully from the user's workstation. However, when the technician runs 'nslookup intranet.company.local', it returns 'Non-existent domain'. What is the most likely cause?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
The web server is not running on port 443.
While that could cause a connection failure after DNS resolves, the primary symptom is DNS resolution failure; nslookup returns NXDOMAIN, so the hostname is not resolved at all.
Best answer
The client's DNS server does not have a record for the internal domain.
A 'Non-existent domain' response from nslookup means the DNS server cannot find the A or CNAME record for that hostname, which is the most likely cause.
Distractor review
A firewall is blocking traffic to the internal web server.
If DNS resolution fails, the browser never attempts to connect to the server, so a firewall block would not be the primary cause; the user wouldn't even get to the point of a TCP connection.
Distractor review
The hostname is misspelled in the browser.
The technician also ran nslookup and got NXDOMAIN, which rules out user typo; the issue is on the DNS server side.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A network engineer needs to connect two switches located 400 meters apart. The cable run includes high electromagnetic interference from nearby machinery. The engineer decides to use fiber optic cabling. Which transceiver type and fiber combination should be used to ensure the link reaches 400 meters while remaining cost-effective?
Question 2
A network engineer is designing a new switched network and needs to ensure that broadcast traffic from one department does not reach another department's workstations. The engineer plans to use VLANs. Which of the following must be configured on the switches to isolate broadcast domains as intended?
Question 3
A security engineer is configuring a site-to-site VPN between two branch offices. The requirement is to encrypt all traffic between the two networks using IPsec. Which IPsec mode should be used to encrypt the entire IP packet including the original header?
Question 4
A network administrator is connecting two switches to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. Which technology should be used to combine multiple physical links into a single logical link?
Question 5
A network administrator is experiencing issues where unauthorized devices are offering IP addresses to clients, causing connectivity problems. Which security feature should be enabled on switches to prevent this?
Question 6
A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue and suspects the problem is related to the physical cabling. At which layer of the OSI model should the administrator begin their investigation?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The client's DNS server does not have a record for the internal domain. — The successful ping to the IP address indicates Layer 3 connectivity, but nslookup fails for the hostname, indicating a DNS resolution issue. Since external internet access works, the DNS server is likely resolving external names but not the internal domain. The internal DNS zone for 'company.local' may be misconfigured or missing on the DNS server that the workstation uses. A firewall block would not cause a DNS failure specifically for that name. The web server service, while possibly an issue, is not indicated by the DNS failure.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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