NSE4 High Availability and Diagnostics Practice Question
A FortiGate administrator needs to send logs to a FortiAnalyzer device for long-term storage and analysis. Which log configuration must be set up?
⚠ Common exam trap
NSE4 often tests the confusion between syslog and FortiAnalyzer logging, so candidates pick 'configure syslog server' thinking any log forwarding works, missing the FortiAnalyzer-specific protocol and features.
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
✓
Add the FortiAnalyzer as a logging destination in Log Settings
To send logs to FortiAnalyzer, the administrator must add FortiAnalyzer as a logging destination in the FortiGate's Log Settings (under Log & Report > Log Settings or via CLI 'config log fortianalyzer setting'). This enables the FortiGate to forward logs to the FortiAnalyzer IP address for storage and analysis.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure an IPsec tunnel to FortiAnalyzer
Why it's wrong here
An IPsec tunnel is not required for log forwarding to FortiAnalyzer. FortiGate can send logs over any routable interface using the native FortiTelemetry protocol, which uses TCP port 8013 (or 8014 for encrypted FortiTelemetry). While you may choose to tunnel log traffic for additional security, this is a design choice, not a prerequisite, and configuring an IPsec tunnel alone does not tell the FortiGate where or how to send its logs.
- ✓
Add the FortiAnalyzer as a logging destination in Log Settings
Why this is correct
To forward logs to FortiAnalyzer, you must explicitly configure it as a remote logging destination under Log & Report > Log Setting. You add the FortiAnalyzer's IP address, specify the log types to transmit, and set the upload schedule or real-time mode. This action enables the FortiGate to establish a session using the FortiTelemetry protocol (or FortiTelemetry over SSL/TLS) and stream logs to FortiAnalyzer, which then stores them centrally and provides reporting and analysis.
- ✗
Enable disk logging on the FortiGate
Why it's wrong here
Enabling disk logging on the FortiGate stores logs locally on the FortiGate's internal hard drive or SSD, which is useful for on-device retention and troubleshooting when network connectivity is unavailable. However, disk logging does not transmit any data to FortiAnalyzer; it is a purely local storage feature. For centralized log collection, you still need to configure a remote logging destination like FortiAnalyzer or syslog, so disk logging alone does not fulfill the requirement to send logs to FortiAnalyzer.
- ✗
Configure syslog server pointing to FortiAnalyzer IP
Why it's wrong here
Configuring a syslog server pointing to the FortiAnalyzer IP is incorrect for native FortiGate-to-FortiAnalyzer logging. FortiGate and FortiAnalyzer communicate via the proprietary FortiTelemetry protocol, which carries rich metadata and supports advanced analytics, whereas syslog (UDP/TCP 514) is a generic protocol that lacks FortiAnalyzer-specific structures and features. While FortiAnalyzer can ingest syslog from third-party devices, using a syslog server for a FortiGate is not the recommended or supported method for full integration, and it may result in incomplete log fields or lost functionality.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Fortinet exam blueprint
This NSE4 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Fortinet 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 NSE4 exam.