The correct inference is that the domain has two mail servers with different priority levels. This is determined by interpreting the MX record output, where each record lists a hostname and a numerical priority value; a lower number, such as 10, indicates a higher preference, meaning that mail delivery will first attempt the server with priority 10, and only fall back to the server with priority 20 if the first is unreachable. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this type of output interpretation tests your ability to analyze DNS reconnaissance data, a common phase in footprinting and information gathering. A frequent trap is confusing the priority number with server importance—remember that lower numbers mean higher priority, not the other way around. For a quick memory tip, think of it like a race: the smallest number crosses the finish line first.
CEH Footprinting and Reconnaissance Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of footprinting and reconnaissance. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
C:\Users\test>nslookup -type=MX example.com
Server: dns.company.com
Address: 192.168.1.1
example.com MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = mail1.example.com
example.com MX preference = 20, mail exchanger = mail2.example.com
```
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The domain has two mail servers with different priority levels.
The output shows two MX records for the domain, each with a different priority value (e.g., 10 and 20). Lower priority numbers indicate higher preference, so the mail server with priority 10 is tried first, and the one with priority 20 is a backup. This directly indicates the domain has two mail servers with different priority levels, which is exactly what MX records are designed to convey.
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 domain has two mail servers with different priority levels.
Why this is correct
MX records with preferences 10 and 20 indicate two mail servers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The command failed because the DNS server is unreachable.
Why it's wrong here
The command succeeded as it returned MX records.
✗
The domain uses SPF records to prevent email spoofing.
Why it's wrong here
No SPF records are shown in the output.
✗
The domain's web server IP address is 192.168.1.1.
Why it's wrong here
The IP 192.168.1.1 is the DNS server, not the web server.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse MX records with other DNS record types (like A or TXT) and incorrectly infer unrelated information such as SPF usage or web server IPs, or assume the command failed when it clearly succeeded.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The command succeeded as it returned MX records.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MX records are defined in RFC 1035 and RFC 7505, and their priority values (0–65535) determine the order of mail delivery: lower values are preferred. When a sending mail server performs an MX lookup, it sorts the records by priority and attempts delivery to the lowest-priority server first; if that fails, it tries the next. This redundancy is critical for email reliability, and a common misconfiguration is setting all MX records to the same priority, which defeats the failover mechanism.
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 practitioner preparing for the CEH exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CEH question in full detail.
Footprinting and Reconnaissance — This question tests Footprinting and Reconnaissance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The domain has two mail servers with different priority levels. — The output shows two MX records for the domain, each with a different priority value (e.g., 10 and 20). Lower priority numbers indicate higher preference, so the mail server with priority 10 is tried first, and the one with priority 20 is a backup. This directly indicates the domain has two mail servers with different priority levels, which is exactly what MX records are designed to convey.
What should I do if I get this CEH question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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