This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 user reports that they cannot access the internet. The technician verifies the workstation has IP address 192.168.1.10 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and default gateway 192.168.1.1. The user can ping the default gateway successfully. Other users on the same subnet can access the internet. Which command should the technician run on the workstation to further isolate the issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Why wrong: Already performed; the IP config appears correct. This command won't reveal routing table issues.
B
netstat -r
Displays the routing table, allowing the technician to verify if a default route via 192.168.1.1 is present. Missing or incorrect routes can cause this issue.
C
tracert 8.8.8.8
Why wrong: Tracert would show where packets stop, but if the workstation has no default route, it may not even send packets. Checking the routing table first is more efficient.
D
nslookup google.com
Why wrong: Nslookup tests DNS resolution, but the user cannot ping 8.8.8.8 (an IP address), so DNS is not the cause.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
netstat -r
The user can ping the default gateway (192.168.1.1), indicating Layer 2 and basic Layer 3 connectivity to the local router. However, other users on the same subnet can access the internet, so the issue is likely with the workstation's routing table. The 'netstat -r' command displays the IP routing table, allowing the technician to check for a missing or incorrect default route (e.g., destination 0.0.0.0 with gateway 192.168.1.1). This isolates whether the workstation knows how to forward traffic beyond the local subnet.
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.
✗
ipconfig /all
Why it's wrong here
Already performed; the IP config appears correct. This command won't reveal routing table issues.
✓
netstat -r
Why this is correct
Displays the routing table, allowing the technician to verify if a default route via 192.168.1.1 is present. Missing or incorrect routes can cause this issue.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
tracert 8.8.8.8
Why it's wrong here
Tracert would show where packets stop, but if the workstation has no default route, it may not even send packets. Checking the routing table first is more efficient.
✗
nslookup google.com
Why it's wrong here
Nslookup tests DNS resolution, but the user cannot ping 8.8.8.8 (an IP address), so DNS is not the cause.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that 'ipconfig /all' is the first step for any connectivity issue, but here the technician already has the IP configuration, so the trap is to overlook that the routing table must be examined when local connectivity works but internet access fails.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Already performed; the IP config appears correct. This command won't reveal routing table issues.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The routing table on a Windows workstation uses the '0.0.0.0' network destination with a netmask of '0.0.0.0' as the default route. When a packet's destination IP does not match any more specific route, the default route is used; if it is missing or points to an incorrect gateway, all external traffic fails. The 'netstat -r' command (equivalent to 'route print') shows the active routes, including the interface metric and gateway, which is critical when a static route or DHCP-provided route is misconfigured.
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 Troubleshooting — This question tests Network Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: netstat -r — The user can ping the default gateway (192.168.1.1), indicating Layer 2 and basic Layer 3 connectivity to the local router. However, other users on the same subnet can access the internet, so the issue is likely with the workstation's routing table. The 'netstat -r' command displays the IP routing table, allowing the technician to check for a missing or incorrect default route (e.g., destination 0.0.0.0 with gateway 192.168.1.1). This isolates whether the workstation knows how to forward traffic beyond the local subnet.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.