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Free N10-009 practice test: 30 questions with answers

30 original questions for CompTIA Network+, drawn from every topic area. Answer each one to see whether you got it right and why. No sign-up.

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N10-009 exam guide: topics, cost and format

All 30 N10-009 questions with answers

The same questions as the test above, grouped by exam topic. Open any question to see the answer and explanation.

Networking Fundamentals (6 questions)

  1. Question 1

    A switch receives a frame whose destination MAC address is not in its MAC address table. What does the switch do by default?

    1. ADrops the frame silently
    2. BReturns the frame to the sender
    3. CSends the frame only to the default gateway
    4. DFloods the frame out all ports in the same VLAN except the one it arrived on
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    An unknown unicast frame is flooded to all other ports in the VLAN so the destination can respond and the switch can learn its location. Dropping, gateway-only forwarding, and returning frames are not default switch behaviour.

  2. Question 2

    Which OSI layer is responsible for logical addressing and routing packets between networks?

    1. ALayer 7, application
    2. BLayer 3, network
    3. CLayer 2, data link
    4. DLayer 4, transport
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    The network layer handles logical addressing such as IP and routing between networks. Layer 2 handles MAC addressing on a local link, layer 4 handles end-to-end transport, and layer 7 provides application services.

  3. Question 3

    A subnet is 192.168.10.0/26. How many usable host addresses does it provide?

    1. A64
    2. B30
    3. C126
    4. D62
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    A /26 has 6 host bits, giving 64 addresses, minus the network and broadcast addresses, which leaves 62 usable hosts. The other counts ignore the reserved addresses or use the wrong host-bit count.

  4. Question 4

    Which IPv4 address is a private address defined in RFC 1918?

    1. A10.20.30.40
    2. B8.8.8.8
    3. C169.254.10.5
    4. D203.0.113.7
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    10.0.0.0/8 is private under RFC 1918, so 10.20.30.40 is private. 8.8.8.8 is public, 169.254.0.0/16 is link-local, and 203.0.113.0/24 is a documentation range.

  5. Question 5

    Which transport protocol provides reliable, ordered delivery with acknowledgments and retransmission?

    1. AARP
    2. BTCP
    3. CICMP
    4. DUDP
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    TCP provides reliable, ordered delivery using acknowledgments and retransmission. UDP is connectionless and unreliable, ICMP carries control messages, and ARP resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses.

  6. Question 6

    Which application protocol and port combination is used for secure web traffic?

    1. AHTTPS on TCP port 443
    2. BDNS on TCP port 22
    3. CHTTP on UDP port 53
    4. DSMTP on TCP port 80
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    HTTPS uses TCP port 443 for encrypted web traffic. HTTP uses port 80, DNS uses port 53, and SMTP uses port 25 or submission ports, so the other pairings are incorrect.

Network Security (6 questions)

  1. Question 7

    A firewall rule must allow web traffic only from the internal subnet to the internet. Which principle does this apply?

    1. ALeast privilege
    2. BBroadcast flooding
    3. COpen-by-default
    4. DFull access
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Allowing only the specific traffic needed applies least privilege, which limits exposure. Full access, open-by-default rules, and broadcast flooding are contrary to this principle.

  2. Question 8

    Which firewall type inspects the state of connections and tracks whether a packet belongs to an established session?

    1. AStateful firewall
    2. BProxy with no session tracking
    3. CStateless packet filter only
    4. DHub
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    A stateful firewall tracks connection state and allows return traffic for established sessions. Stateless filters evaluate packets individually, a proxy handles application requests, and a hub has no filtering.

  3. Question 9

    Which network device or service inspects traffic for known signatures of attacks and can block them in real time?

    1. ADNS forwarder
    2. BIntrusion prevention system (IPS)
    3. CLoad balancer only
    4. DDHCP server
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    An IPS inspects traffic against signatures and behaviour and can block attacks in-line. DHCP servers assign addresses, DNS forwarders resolve names, and load balancers distribute traffic.

  4. Question 10

    A company wants to allow remote employees to access internal applications securely from personal devices, with access decided by identity and device health. Which model fits best?

    1. AZero trust network access
    2. BOpen VPN for all with no checks
    3. CShared administrator password
    4. DPublic Wi-Fi access
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Zero trust network access evaluates identity and device posture for each access request. Open VPN with no checks, shared admin passwords, and public Wi-Fi do not provide that control.

  5. Question 11

    Which attack floods a network with traffic so that legitimate users cannot reach a service?

    1. AShoulder surfing
    2. BTailgating
    3. CPhishing
    4. DDenial-of-service (DoS) attack
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    A DoS attack overwhelms a service so legitimate users cannot use it. Phishing tricks users into giving data, shoulder surfing watches credentials, and tailgating gains physical entry.

  6. Question 12

    Which attack involves an attacker secretly relaying and possibly altering communication between two parties who believe they are talking directly?

    1. AMan-in-the-middle attack
    2. BBrute-force login
    3. CPort scanning
    4. DRootkit installation
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    A man-in-the-middle attack intercepts or alters traffic between two parties. Port scanning maps services, brute-force attacks guess passwords, and rootkits hide malware.

Network Troubleshooting and Tools (6 questions)

  1. Question 13

    A user can reach local devices but not the internet. Other users on the same subnet have internet access. Which item should be checked first on the affected workstation?

    1. AKeyboard layout and locale
    2. BDefault gateway configuration
    3. CMonitor display brightness
    4. DPrinter driver revision
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    If local traffic works but external does not, the default gateway is a common cause. Monitor brightness, keyboard layout, and printer drivers are unrelated to routing.

  2. Question 14

    A workstation shows an IP address in the 169.254.x.x range. What does this most likely indicate?

    1. AThe device has a working path to the internet, and its DNS lookups are being resolved
    2. BThe device is a dedicated production server hosting internal services
    3. CThe device could not reach a DHCP server and self-assigned a link-local address
    4. DThe device has been assigned a static public IP address by the ISP
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Addresses in 169.254.0.0/16 are self-assigned when DHCP fails. They do not indicate internet connectivity, static public addressing, or server roles.

  3. Question 15

    Users report that a website name does not resolve, but the website's IP address works when typed directly. Which service is most likely failing?

    1. ADNS
    2. BDHCP
    3. CSNMP
    4. DNTP
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Name resolution is a DNS function, so a failure to resolve names while IP access works points to DNS. DHCP assigns addresses, NTP handles time, and SNMP manages devices.

  4. Question 16

    Which command shows the IP configuration of a Windows computer, including the default gateway and DNS servers?

    1. Anetstat -r only
    2. Bipconfig /all
    3. Ctracert /dev/null
    4. Darp -d
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    ipconfig /all displays detailed IP configuration, including gateway and DNS settings. The other commands perform different functions or are not configuration displays.

  5. Question 17

    A technician suspects a duplicate IP address on the network. Which tool reveals the MAC address associated with an IP address on the local network?

    1. Aarp -a
    2. Bnetstat -an
    3. Cnslookup
    4. Dtracert
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    arp -a displays the ARP cache, which maps IP addresses to MAC addresses on the local network. Nslookup resolves names, tracert shows hops, and netstat shows connections.

  6. Question 18

    A technician needs to find where a cable runs and whether a port is wired correctly. Which tool is most appropriate?

    1. ASpectrum analyzer
    2. BMultimeter for DC voltage only
    3. CProtocol analyzer
    4. DCable tester
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    A cable tester checks continuity, wiring, and faults in copper cables. Protocol analyzers inspect traffic, spectrum analyzers examine radio frequencies, and multimeters measure electrical values.

Network Operations (6 questions)

  1. Question 19

    Which documentation item shows how devices are physically connected, including port-to-port links?

    1. AStaff rota for on-call engineers
    2. BSoftware licence sheet for SaaS
    3. CNetwork diagram and cable map
    4. DQuarterly regional sales report
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Network diagrams and cable maps show physical and logical connections, which are essential for troubleshooting. Sales reports, rotas, and licence sheets do not show connections.

  2. Question 20

    Which protocol is used to synchronize clocks across network devices so that logs can be correlated accurately?

    1. ANTP
    2. BTFTP
    3. CPPP
    4. DSNMP trap
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    NTP synchronizes device clocks, which matters for accurate log correlation. TFTP transfers files, SNMP traps report events, and PPP is a point-to-point encapsulation protocol.

  3. Question 21

    Which network monitoring protocol allows devices to report status and performance data to a management system?

    1. ADHCP
    2. BDNS
    3. CSNMP
    4. DARP
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    SNMP lets managers poll devices and receive traps for status and performance data. DHCP assigns addresses, DNS resolves names, and ARP maps addresses on a local network.

  4. Question 22

    A network team must back up device configurations regularly and keep them off the device. Which practice fits best?

    1. ARely on memory to recall device settings after each change window
    2. BKeep the sole copy of the configuration on the device flash, with no backup
    3. CPrint the configuration and discard the file after the change
    4. DStore configuration backups on a central server and test restoration
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Central backups with restoration tests protect against device failure and confirm that recovery works. Single copies, discarded printouts, and memory do not provide reliable recovery.

  5. Question 23

    Which process ensures that a network change is reviewed, approved, and documented before it is made?

    1. AVLSM subnetting
    2. BPort mirroring
    3. CChange management
    4. DWireshark capture
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Change management is the process of reviewing, approving, scheduling, and documenting changes to reduce risk. Packet capture, subnetting, and port mirroring are technical tasks.

  6. Question 24

    A network team wants to see the traffic patterns and top talkers on a link without capturing every packet. Which technology is most appropriate?

    1. ADisabling monitoring
    2. BFull packet capture on every port
    3. CNetFlow or sFlow
    4. DPrinting traffic logs
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Flow monitoring summarizes traffic patterns and top talkers without the storage burden of full capture. Full capture is heavy, printing logs is impractical, and disabling monitoring removes visibility.

Network Implementations (6 questions)

  1. Question 25

    A branch office must connect to headquarters over the internet with encryption. Which technology is most appropriate?

    1. AIPsec VPN
    2. BWi-Fi bridging
    3. CSerial console
    4. DUnencrypted GRE tunnel
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    An IPsec VPN encrypts traffic across the internet between sites. Unencrypted tunnels provide no confidentiality, Wi-Fi bridging is local, and a serial console is for management.

  2. Question 26

    Which routing protocol is an interior gateway protocol that uses link-state advertisements and the Dijkstra algorithm?

    1. AStatic routing
    2. BBGP
    3. CRIP
    4. DOSPF
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    OSPF is a link-state interior gateway protocol that computes shortest paths using Dijkstra's algorithm. BGP is an exterior protocol, RIP is distance-vector, and static routing is not a dynamic protocol.

  3. Question 27

    Which protocol is used by routers to exchange routing information between autonomous systems on the internet?

    1. AOSPF
    2. BBGP
    3. CEIGRP only
    4. DRIP
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    BGP is the exterior gateway protocol used between autonomous systems. OSPF and RIP are interior protocols, and EIGRP is designed for use within an enterprise.

  4. Question 28

    A company needs to give its internal servers private IP addresses but allow them to reach the internet using a shared public address. Which technology provides this?

    1. ASTP root election
    2. BDHCP snooping ACL
    3. CVLAN tagging on trunks
    4. DNAT overload (PAT)
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    NAT overload maps many private addresses to one public address using ports. DHCP snooping filters DHCP traffic, VLAN tagging separates broadcast domains, and spanning tree prevents loops.

  5. Question 29

    Which wireless security protocol is considered the modern standard for personal and enterprise WPA3 networks?

    1. AWPA3
    2. BWPS
    3. COpen authentication
    4. DWEP
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    WPA3 is the modern Wi-Fi security standard, with stronger protections than earlier options. WEP is obsolete and insecure, WPS is a setup feature with known weaknesses, and open authentication has no encryption.

  6. Question 30

    A wireless deployment must support many users in a large office with consistent coverage and roaming. Which design is most appropriate?

    1. ADisabling roaming on the SSID so clients stay tied to its first access point while walking across the floor
    2. BA single access point at the front desk, with one omnidirectional antenna serving the whole office floor
    3. CMultiple access points with overlapping coverage at appropriate channels and power levels
    4. DRunning one access point at maximum transmit power so it covers the whole floor
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Multiple APs with planned overlap and sensible channel and power settings provide coverage and roaming. A single AP, maximum power on one device, and disabled roaming do not meet the requirement.