N10-009 APIPA Practice Question
A user reports that they cannot access any network resources. The technician checks the IP configuration and sees that the workstation has an IP address of 169.254.1.5. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse APIPA with a static IP misconfiguration or assume a DNS issue, but the 169.254.x.x address is a definitive indicator of DHCP failure, not a gateway or subnet problem.
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
✓
The DHCP server is unavailable
The IP address 169.254.1.5 is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address (169.254.0.0/16 range), which Windows assigns when a DHCP client fails to receive a lease from a DHCP server. Since the workstation cannot obtain a valid IP configuration, it cannot communicate with any network resources, confirming that the DHCP server is unavailable.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The DNS server is down
Why it's wrong here
A DNS failure would not prevent the workstation from obtaining an IP address.
When this WOULD be correct
A user can access network resources by IP address but not by hostname. In that scenario, the DNS server being down would be the most likely cause, as DNS resolution fails while network connectivity remains intact.
- ✓
The DHCP server is unavailable
Why this is correct
An APIPA address indicates DHCP failure, so the DHCP server is likely unreachable.
- ✗
The default gateway is incorrect
Why it's wrong here
An incorrect gateway would allow the workstation to get a valid IP, but APIPA appears only when DHCP fails.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the user had a valid static IP address (not APIPA) but could not access the internet or remote networks, while local resources were accessible. The question would specify that the IP is manually configured and local connectivity works.
- ✗
The subnet mask is mismatched
Why it's wrong here
A subnet mask mismatch would still allow a valid DHCP lease to be obtained; APIPA occurs only when no lease is obtained.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where a user can access some resources but not others, and the IP configuration shows a valid address with an incorrect subnet mask (e.g., 255.255.255.0 instead of 255.255.0.0), would make this the correct answer.
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.
✓The DHCP server is unavailableCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
An APIPA address indicates DHCP failure, so the DHCP server is likely unreachable.
✗The DNS server is downWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The IP address 169.254.1.5 is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, which indicates that the workstation failed to obtain an IP from a DHCP server. A down DNS server would not cause the workstation to self-assign an APIPA address; it would still receive a valid IP via DHCP.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user can access network resources by IP address but not by hostname. In that scenario, the DNS server being down would be the most likely cause, as DNS resolution fails while network connectivity remains intact.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often associate any network access failure with DNS issues, overlooking that APIPA addresses specifically point to DHCP failure rather than name resolution problems.
✗The default gateway is incorrectWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The workstation has an APIPA address (169.254.x.x), which indicates DHCP failure, not an incorrect default gateway. An incorrect default gateway would still allow local network access but not external routing, and the IP would be valid from DHCP or static.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the user had a valid static IP address (not APIPA) but could not access the internet or remote networks, while local resources were accessible. The question would specify that the IP is manually configured and local connectivity works.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often associate 'cannot access network resources' with gateway issues, but they overlook that APIPA addresses are self-assigned when DHCP fails, making DHCP the root cause.
✗The subnet mask is mismatchedWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A mismatched subnet mask would not cause the workstation to obtain an APIPA address (169.254.x.x); it would instead cause connectivity issues within the subnet while the IP address would still be assigned via DHCP or static configuration.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where a user can access some resources but not others, and the IP configuration shows a valid address with an incorrect subnet mask (e.g., 255.255.255.0 instead of 255.255.0.0), would make this the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse symptoms of a subnet mask mismatch (inability to reach remote networks) with the complete loss of connectivity seen with APIPA, assuming any IP configuration error leads to the same result.
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?”
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Troubleshoot: Network Connectivity
Key term
DHCP server
A DHCP server is a network device or service that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices on a network, eliminating the need for manual configuration.
Key term
Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing
A fallback method used by a device to automatically assign itself an IP address when it cannot obtain one from a DHCP server.
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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.