- A
The web server service is not running or is listening on a different port
Correct. If the service is not available, the browser cannot establish a TCP connection to the web server, even though network connectivity exists.
- B
The default gateway on the server is misconfigured
Why wrong: If the server's gateway were misconfigured, ping replies would likely fail or be asymmetric. Since ping works, the gateway is probably fine.
- C
The user's workstation has a duplicate IP address
Why wrong: A duplicate IP would cause intermittent connectivity issues and likely affect ping as well, but the symptom is isolated to web access.
- D
The DNS cache on the workstation is poisoned
Why wrong: The technician confirmed that DNS resolves correctly to 192.168.10.25, so DNS is not the issue.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the web server service is not running or is listening on a different port. This is correct because a successful ping confirms Layer 3 IP connectivity, and proper DNS resolution eliminates name resolution issues, while an unblocked firewall shows access control is not the problem. The missing piece is the application layer itself—the HTTP service (like Apache or IIS) may have crashed, or it could be bound to a non-standard port such as 8080 instead of the expected port 80, causing the browser request to miss the service entirely. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this scenario tests your ability to isolate failures using the OSI model: when lower layers (network, transport) work but the application fails, suspect the service or port mismatch. A common trap is assuming a ping response guarantees the web service is up, but ping only tests ICMP, not the HTTP daemon. Memory tip: “Ping says alive, but port says goodbye”—always verify the service and its listening port when connectivity exists but content does not load.
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 small office can access external websites normally, but they cannot reach the internal company wiki server at 192.168.10.25. A technician can successfully ping the server's IP address from a user's workstation. The DNS resolution for the wiki's hostname (wiki.company.local) returns the correct IP. The company's firewall permits HTTP traffic to the server. What is the most likely cause of the issue?
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 web server service is not running or is listening on a different port
Since the technician can successfully ping the server's IP address from the user's workstation, Layer 3 connectivity is confirmed, ruling out routing or gateway issues. DNS resolution returns the correct IP, so name resolution is not the problem. The firewall permits HTTP traffic, so access control is not blocking the connection. The most likely cause is that the web server service (e.g., Apache, IIS) is not running or is listening on a non-standard port (e.g., 8080 instead of 80), preventing the HTTP request from reaching the service even though the host is reachable.
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 web server service is not running or is listening on a different port
Why this is correct
Correct. If the service is not available, the browser cannot establish a TCP connection to the web server, even though network connectivity exists.
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 default gateway on the server is misconfigured
Why it's wrong here
If the server's gateway were misconfigured, ping replies would likely fail or be asymmetric. Since ping works, the gateway is probably fine.
- ✗
The user's workstation has a duplicate IP address
Why it's wrong here
A duplicate IP would cause intermittent connectivity issues and likely affect ping as well, but the symptom is isolated to web access.
- ✗
The DNS cache on the workstation is poisoned
Why it's wrong here
The technician confirmed that DNS resolves correctly to 192.168.10.25, so DNS is not the issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a successful ping implies full application-layer connectivity, but ping uses ICMP (Layer 3) while HTTP uses TCP (Layer 4), so a working ping does not guarantee that the web service is running or reachable on the correct port.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a ping succeeds but HTTP fails, the issue often lies at the application layer. Web servers listen on specific TCP ports (default 80 for HTTP, 443 for HTTPS); if the service is bound to a different port or is not running, the TCP handshake will fail. Tools like `netstat -an` on the server can verify listening ports, and a port scan (e.g., `telnet 192.168.10.25 80`) from the workstation can confirm whether the port is open. In real-world scenarios, misconfigured virtual hosts or firewalls on the server itself can also cause this behavior.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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 web server service is not running or is listening on a different port — Since the technician can successfully ping the server's IP address from the user's workstation, Layer 3 connectivity is confirmed, ruling out routing or gateway issues. DNS resolution returns the correct IP, so name resolution is not the problem. The firewall permits HTTP traffic, so access control is not blocking the connection. The most likely cause is that the web server service (e.g., Apache, IIS) is not running or is listening on a non-standard port (e.g., 8080 instead of 80), preventing the HTTP request from reaching the service even though the host is reachable.
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
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.
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