- A
The routing protocol is not redistributing the default route
Why wrong: Redistribution issues affect dynamic routes, but the problem describes a static default route that is misconfigured.
- B
The static default route has an incorrect next-hop IP
If the next-hop IP in the static route is incorrect or the interface is down, traffic cannot be forwarded even though the WAN interface is up and the ISP gateway is reachable via another path.
- C
The WAN interface is administratively down
Why wrong: The WAN interface is up (the administrator noticed it is up), so it is not administratively down.
- D
The firewall is blocking traffic to the cloud
Why wrong: While firewall blocking could be an issue, the primary symptom is that the default route's next-hop is unreachable, indicating a routing problem rather than a firewall filtering issue.
Quick Answer
The answer is a static default route with an incorrect next-hop IP. This is correct because the router’s WAN interface is up and the ISP gateway is reachable via ping, yet traffic destined for the cloud fails—meaning the router has a working physical path but is being told to forward packets to a next-hop address that doesn’t exist on its directly connected subnet. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between a link-level failure and a routing table misconfiguration; a common trap is assuming the WAN interface being up guarantees reachability, but a static route’s next-hop must be in the same subnet as the router’s egress interface. Remember the memory tip: “Ping the gateway, check the route’s gateway”—if the router can ping the ISP but not the cloud, the static route’s next-hop IP is likely mistyped or pointing to the wrong address.
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.
Users in a remote branch office report that they cannot access the company's cloud-based applications. The network administrator notices that the edge router's WAN interface is up but the branch's default route points to a next-hop IP that is unreachable. The administrator can ping the ISP's gateway IP from the router. What 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 static default route has an incorrect next-hop IP
The correct answer is B because the scenario describes a static default route configured with a next-hop IP that is unreachable. The WAN interface is up and the ISP gateway is reachable (as confirmed by the ping), but the router cannot forward traffic to the cloud because the static route points to an incorrect next-hop address. This is a classic static route misconfiguration where the next-hop IP does not match the ISP gateway or is not in the directly connected 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.
- ✗
The routing protocol is not redistributing the default route
Why it's wrong here
Redistribution issues affect dynamic routes, but the problem describes a static default route that is misconfigured.
- ✓
The static default route has an incorrect next-hop IP
Why this is correct
If the next-hop IP in the static route is incorrect or the interface is down, traffic cannot be forwarded even though the WAN interface is up and the ISP gateway is reachable via another path.
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 WAN interface is administratively down
Why it's wrong here
The WAN interface is up (the administrator noticed it is up), so it is not administratively down.
- ✗
The firewall is blocking traffic to the cloud
Why it's wrong here
While firewall blocking could be an issue, the primary symptom is that the default route's next-hop is unreachable, indicating a routing problem rather than a firewall filtering issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between a WAN interface being up and the default route's next-hop being reachable; candidates mistakenly assume that if the interface is up and the ISP gateway is pingable, the default route must be correct, but the next-hop IP configured in the static route could be a different, unreachable address.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A static default route (0.0.0.0/0) with an incorrect next-hop IP causes the router to drop packets because the next-hop is not in the routing table as a directly connected route. The router performs a recursive lookup: it must find a route to the next-hop IP before forwarding; if that next-hop is unreachable, the route is considered 'invalid' and traffic is discarded. In Cisco IOS, the 'show ip route static' command would display the route as 'via [next-hop]' but with a '?' or 'subnetted' indicator if the next-hop is not reachable.
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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Network Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
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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 static default route has an incorrect next-hop IP — The correct answer is B because the scenario describes a static default route configured with a next-hop IP that is unreachable. The WAN interface is up and the ISP gateway is reachable (as confirmed by the ping), but the router cannot forward traffic to the cloud because the static route points to an incorrect next-hop address. This is a classic static route misconfiguration where the next-hop IP does not match the ISP gateway or is not in the directly connected 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: "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 30, 2026
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