N10-009 Networking Concepts Practice Question
Which network topology connects all devices to a central device?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse a physical star topology with a logical bus topology (e.g., early Ethernet using a hub) and forget that a switch-based star creates a point-to-point logical connection, eliminating the shared medium and collision domain of a bus.
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
✓
Star
In a star topology, each device connects directly to a central device such as a switch or hub. This central device manages all communication between endpoints, meaning any data sent from one device must pass through the central point before reaching its destination. This design simplifies fault isolation because a single cable failure only affects the connected device, not the entire network.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Star
Why this is correct
A star topology is characterized by all network devices connecting to a single central device, such as a hub or switch. This central point manages and directs all data traffic between the connected nodes. This design simplifies troubleshooting and fault isolation, as a failure in one device or cable typically does not affect the rest of the network, though the central device itself becomes a single point of failure.
- ✗
Mesh
Why it's wrong here
A mesh topology involves direct, point-to-point connections between network devices. In a full mesh configuration, every device is connected to every other device, providing maximum redundancy and fault tolerance due to multiple paths for data. However, this design is highly complex and expensive to implement for a large number of devices, as the number of connections grows exponentially with each added node, and it does not rely on a single central device.
When this WOULD be correct
A mesh topology would be correct for a question like: 'Which network topology provides the highest level of redundancy and fault tolerance by connecting every device to every other device?'
- ✗
Bus
Why it's wrong here
A bus topology utilizes a single shared communication cable, known as the backbone, to which all network devices are directly connected. Data signals travel along this common bus, and each device listens for data addressed to it. This linear arrangement requires terminators at both ends of the backbone to prevent signal reflection, and it lacks a central device, making the entire network vulnerable to a break in the main cable.
When this WOULD be correct
A bus topology would be correct for a question like: 'Which topology uses a single backbone cable to connect all devices?' or 'Which topology is simplest and cheapest for small networks with low traffic?'
- ✗
Ring
Why it's wrong here
In a ring topology, each network device is connected directly to exactly two other devices, forming a continuous circular data path. Data typically travels in one direction around the ring, passing through each device until it reaches its destination. There is no central connecting device; instead, devices actively participate in relaying data, making the failure of a single device or cable potentially disruptive to the entire network.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking 'Which topology connects devices in a closed loop where each device has exactly two neighbors?' would make ring the correct answer.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓StarCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A star topology is characterized by all network devices connecting to a single central device, such as a hub or switch. This central point manages and directs all data traffic between the connected nodes. This design simplifies troubleshooting and fault isolation, as a failure in one device or cable typically does not affect the rest of the network, though the central device itself becomes a single point of failure.
✗MeshWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
In a mesh topology, each device connects to multiple other devices, not to a single central device. The question specifically asks for a topology where all devices connect to a central device, which is the star topology.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A mesh topology would be correct for a question like: 'Which network topology provides the highest level of redundancy and fault tolerance by connecting every device to every other device?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse mesh with star because both involve multiple connections, but mesh lacks a central point. They might think 'central' refers to any hub-like structure, but mesh is decentralized.
✗BusWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
In a bus topology, all devices are connected to a single central cable (the bus), not to a central device like a switch or hub. The question specifies a central device, which is characteristic of a star topology.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A bus topology would be correct for a question like: 'Which topology uses a single backbone cable to connect all devices?' or 'Which topology is simplest and cheapest for small networks with low traffic?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'central cable' with 'central device', or recall that bus topology connects all devices to a common medium, mistakenly thinking that medium is a central device.
✗RingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
In a ring topology, each device is connected to exactly two other devices, forming a circular data path, not to a central device.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking 'Which topology connects devices in a closed loop where each device has exactly two neighbors?' would make ring the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse ring with star because both involve a form of centralization in the logical path, but ring lacks a physical central device.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
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Key term
IoT
IoT (Internet of Things) is a network of physical devices embedded with sensors and software to connect and exchange data over the internet.
Key term
Network topology
Network topology is the physical or logical arrangement of devices, cables, and data paths in a computer network.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every N10-009 question from scratch — 464 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.