156-315.81.20 ClusterXL and VRRP High Availability Practice Question
Exhibit
cphaprob stat Cluster Mode: Load Sharing (Multicast) Member 1: 192.168.1.1 - Active Member 2: 192.168.1.2 - Active
Refer to the exhibit. Why are both members showing as 'Active' in this Load Sharing configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume that 'Active' status for both members indicates a cluster failure or misconfiguration. They fail to realize that Load Sharing Multicast mode is designed to have both members active simultaneously.
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
✓
Load Sharing Multicast mode allows all members to process traffic concurrently.
In Load Sharing Multicast mode, both members participate in traffic processing simultaneously. The cluster uses a multicast MAC address, and traffic is distributed across all members. The 'Active' status for both nodes is expected, as they are both actively forwarding packets and sharing the load, which increases total throughput capacity for the cluster compared to a standard High Availability setup.
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 cluster is misconfigured and will soon fail to a single active node.
Why it's wrong here
This output indicates a correctly functioning Load Sharing Multicast cluster. In this mode, both nodes are expected to be active simultaneously to distribute the traffic load. It is not an indication of a misconfiguration, but rather the desired operational state for this specific cluster mode.
- ✓
Load Sharing Multicast mode allows all members to process traffic concurrently.
Why this is correct
The primary design goal of Load Sharing Multicast mode is to utilize multiple gateway members to handle traffic simultaneously. By having all members in an active state, the cluster can process more concurrent sessions and increase overall bandwidth, which is the main advantage of this specific cluster deployment mode.
- ✗
The synchronization link is down, causing both to assume the Active role.
Why it's wrong here
If the synchronization link were down, the cluster would typically encounter a split-brain scenario or one node would go into a down state. Both nodes being 'Active' in a Load Sharing cluster is a normal and healthy state, assuming they are sharing traffic as expected under the multicast configuration.
- ✗
One member is in standby, but the status is cached incorrectly.
Why it's wrong here
Check Point status utilities like 'cphaprob' provide real-time, reliable information directly from the kernel. There is no such thing as an 'incorrectly cached' status for the cluster role. If the status says Active, the node is actively participating in the cluster's load-sharing workload as configured by the administrator.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
About these practice questions
One of 210 original 156-315.81.20 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Check Point exam blueprint
This 156-315.81.20 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Check Point 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 156-315.81.20 exam.