N10-009 Question 193
Single answerAsset inventory: Hardware, Software, Licensing, Warranty supportA network administrator is preparing for a planned replacement of several aging access switches across three branch offices. During the review, the administrator discovers that one failed switch is no longer under manufacturer warranty, two spare switches have different firmware versions, and there is no clear record of how many switch management software licenses are still available. Management wants to reduce deployment delays and avoid unsupported equipment in the future. Which action would BEST improve the organization's asset inventory process for network infrastructure?
- A
Create and maintain a centralized asset inventory that tracks hardware model and serial number, installed software/firmware versions, license entitlements, and warranty/support status for each network device
- B
Replace all branch switches with the same model immediately so the organization no longer needs to track software versions or support dates
- C
Store purchase receipts in each branch office and rely on manufacturer websites to look up warranty and licensing details only when equipment fails
- D
Record only IP addresses and hostnames for network devices because configuration backups already provide the rest of the needed information
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best answer is to maintain a centralized asset inventory with records for hardware, software, licensing, and warranty/support. In real environments, network teams need more than device reachability and configuration files; they need lifecycle and entitlement data to make replacement, upgrade, and support decisions efficiently. A complete inventory helps teams identify unsupported devices, verify firmware consistency before deployment, confirm available license entitlements, and check whether a failed device qualifies for vendor replacement or advanced support. This aligns with common IT asset management and configuration management best practices, where organizations maintain accurate records of hardware assets, installed software or firmware, license ownership, and support coverage to reduce downtime, improve change planning, and support audits.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A centralized asset inventory is the best practice because it gives administrators one authoritative source for operational and lifecycle data. For network devices, useful asset records include hardware identifiers such as model and serial number, software and firmware versions for compatibility and patch planning, license information for management platforms or features, and warranty/support contract status for replacement and escalation. This directly addresses the scenario's problems: unsupported equipment, inconsistent firmware, and unclear license availability.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Standardizing hardware models can simplify support, but it does not eliminate the need to track firmware versions, warranty dates, or software licenses. Even identical devices may be at different lifecycle stages, have different support contracts, or require different update levels. This option treats procurement standardization as a substitute for inventory management, which is a common but incorrect assumption.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Keeping receipts in separate locations creates fragmented records and slows incident response. Looking up warranty or licensing only after a failure is reactive and can delay restoration of service. Effective asset management should support proactive planning, such as identifying expiring warranties and confirming entitlements before a deployment or outage occurs.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. IP addresses and hostnames are useful for device identification on the network, but they are not enough for asset management. Configuration backups typically do not serve as complete inventory records and may not include warranty expiration, purchase details, support contract information, or software license ownership. This option confuses operational configuration data with full asset lifecycle tracking.