Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A technician is troubleshooting an issue where a wireless client can associate with an access point but cannot obtain an IP address via DHCP. The technician checks the DHCP server and sees no lease requests from the client's MAC address. Which of the following 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.
A
Distractor review
The client's wireless adapter is faulty
If the adapter were faulty, the client likely would not associate successfully; it's not the most likely cause given association works.
B
Best answer
The AP is not configured with a DHCP relay
Correct. When the DHCP server is on a different subnet than the wireless clients, the AP or a Layer 3 device must relay DHCP broadcasts. Without a relay, the client's DHCP discover messages never reach the server.
C
Distractor review
The client's SSID is incorrect
If the SSID were incorrect, the client would not associate. Association is successful, so SSID is correct.
D
Distractor review
The AP's radio is operating on the wrong channel
Channel selection affects RF performance but does not prevent DHCP; association would still be possible on any channel.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
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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?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The AP is not configured with a DHCP relay — DHCP relies on broadcast messages. If the DHCP server is on a different subnet, broadcasts are not forwarded by routers. A DHCP relay agent (often configured on the AP or router) is needed to forward DHCP traffic. In this scenario, association works but no DHCP means the client's broadcast is not reaching the server.
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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