PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
An SAP system uses a custom RFC destination to an external SOAP web service. After a recent network change, the RFC call fails with a timeout error. The SAP administrator has verified that the web service is reachable from the SAP application server using ping. What is the MOST likely cause of the timeout?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse ICMP reachability (ping) with TCP port-level connectivity, assuming that if a server responds to ping, all network paths are open.
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
✓
A firewall between the application server and the web service is blocking the required port.
The RFC call uses a specific port (e.g., 443 for HTTPS or 80 for HTTP) to communicate with the SOAP web service. A firewall blocking that port would cause a timeout, as the ping test (ICMP) succeeds but the TCP handshake on the required port fails. The SAP administrator's verification of reachability via ping only confirms ICMP-level connectivity, not application-layer port access.
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 DNS resolution is incorrect for the web service hostname.
Why it's wrong here
Ping works, so DNS resolution is functional.
- ✗
The SAP router configuration is blocking the connection.
Why it's wrong here
SAP router is used for SAP-specific communication, not generic HTTP.
- ✗
The SSL certificate of the web service has expired.
Why it's wrong here
SSL expiration would cause a certificate error, not a timeout.
- ✓
A firewall between the application server and the web service is blocking the required port.
Why this is correct
Firewall rules may block the specific port while allowing ICMP.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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