- A
The client's wireless adapter is faulty
Why wrong: If the adapter were faulty, the client likely would not associate successfully; it's not the most likely cause given association works.
- B
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
The client's SSID is incorrect
Why wrong: If the SSID were incorrect, the client would not associate. Association is successful, so SSID is correct.
- D
The AP's radio is operating on the wrong channel
Why wrong: Channel selection affects RF performance but does not prevent DHCP; association would still be possible on any channel.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the AP is not configured with a DHCP relay. This is correct because when a wireless client associates with an access point but cannot obtain an IP address, and the DHCP server shows no lease requests from the client’s MAC, the client’s DHCP discovery broadcasts are being sent out but never reaching the server. This typically happens when the client and DHCP server reside on different subnets; without a DHCP relay (often configured as an ip helper-address on the AP or a Layer 3 device), those broadcast messages are dropped at the router boundary. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how DHCP operates across VLANs and subnets—a common trap is assuming the AP itself handles DHCP or that the issue is a bad cable or SSID mismatch. Remember the key clue: the client associates (Layer 2 works) but gets no IP (Layer 3 fails), so the problem is almost always a missing relay. Memory tip: “No relay, no reply—broadcasts die at the router’s eye.”
N10-009 Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
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 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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 AP is not configured with a DHCP relay
The client can associate with the AP but cannot obtain an IP address, and the DHCP server shows no lease requests from the client's MAC. This indicates that DHCP discovery broadcasts are not reaching the DHCP server, which is common when the client and server are on different subnets and the AP (or a Layer 3 device) is not configured with a DHCP relay (ip helper-address). Without a relay, broadcast DHCP messages are dropped at the router, so the server never sees the request.
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.
- ✗
The client's wireless adapter is faulty
Why it's wrong here
If the adapter were faulty, the client likely would not associate successfully; it's not the most likely cause given association works.
- ✓
The AP is not configured with a DHCP relay
Why this is correct
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.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The client's SSID is incorrect
Why it's wrong here
If the SSID were incorrect, the client would not associate. Association is successful, so SSID is correct.
- ✗
The AP's radio is operating on the wrong channel
Why it's wrong here
Channel selection affects RF performance but does not prevent DHCP; association would still be possible on any channel.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the AP automatically forwards DHCP broadcasts to the server, forgetting that broadcast traffic does not cross Layer 3 boundaries without an explicit relay configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DHCP relies on UDP broadcasts (port 67/68) that are not forwarded across routers by default. A DHCP relay agent (defined in RFC 1542) intercepts the client's broadcast on the local subnet, unicasts it to the configured DHCP server, and relays the reply back. In enterprise networks, this is typically configured on the AP's VLAN interface or the upstream switch/router using the 'ip helper-address' command. Without it, the client's DHCPDISCOVER never leaves the broadcast domain.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
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: The AP is not configured with a DHCP relay — The client can associate with the AP but cannot obtain an IP address, and the DHCP server shows no lease requests from the client's MAC. This indicates that DHCP discovery broadcasts are not reaching the DHCP server, which is common when the client and server are on different subnets and the AP (or a Layer 3 device) is not configured with a DHCP relay (ip helper-address). Without a relay, broadcast DHCP messages are dropped at the router, so the server never sees the request.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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