Quick Answer
The correct interpretation is that the session is in an established state and has been active for one hour. This is determined by decoding the `diagnose sys session filter dport 443` output, where `proto=6` indicates TCP, and `proto_state=01` corresponds to Fortinet’s session state encoding for ESTABLISHED. The `duration=3600` seconds confirms the session has been live for exactly one hour, while `expire=3599` seconds shows nearly the full session lifetime remains, meaning the connection is healthy and actively passing traffic. On the Fortinet NSE 4 Network Security Professional exam, this type of output interpretation tests your ability to read real-time session diagnostics, a common troubleshooting skill for firewall administrators. A frequent trap is confusing `proto_state=01` with a SYN-SENT or TIME_WAIT state, but remember that Fortinet uses `01` exclusively for established TCP sessions. Memory tip: think of “01” as the number one—the session is number one, fully connected and running.
This NSE4 practice question tests your understanding of system and network administration. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An administrator runs 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' and sees the following output: proto=6 proto_state=01 duration=3600 expire=3599 What does this indicate about the session?
The session is in established state and has been active for 1 hour
proto_state=01 means established, duration=3600 seconds = 1 hour.
The session is in FIN_WAIT state
Why wrong: FIN_WAIT would be state 03 or 04.
The session is in TIME_WAIT state and will close soon
Why wrong: TIME_WAIT would be state 07.
The session is in SYN_SENT state waiting for a SYN-ACK
Why wrong: SYN_SENT would be state 02.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The session is in established state and has been active for 1 hour
Option A is correct because the output shows `proto=6` (TCP), `proto_state=01` (ESTABLISHED state per Fortinet's session state encoding), `duration=3600` seconds (1 hour), and `expire=3599` seconds (nearly full lifetime remaining). This indicates the session is actively established and has been ongoing for one hour, matching the description of an established state session.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The session is in established state and has been active for 1 hour
Why this is correct
proto_state=01 means established, duration=3600 seconds = 1 hour.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The session is in FIN_WAIT state
Why it's wrong here
FIN_WAIT would be state 03 or 04.
The session is in TIME_WAIT state and will close soon
Why it's wrong here
TIME_WAIT would be state 07.
The session is in SYN_SENT state waiting for a SYN-ACK
Why it's wrong here
SYN_SENT would be state 02.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates misinterpret `proto_state=01` as a generic 'active' state without knowing Fortinet's specific numeric encoding, leading them to confuse it with FIN_WAIT or TIME_WAIT states that have different numeric values and shorter expire times.
Detailed technical explanation
Fortinet's `diagnose sys session filter` command uses a numeric `proto_state` field where 01 = TCP ESTABLISHED, 02 = SYN_SENT, 05 = FIN_WAIT, 09 = TIME_WAIT, etc., based on the internal session state machine. The `duration` field tracks seconds since session creation, while `expire` shows remaining seconds before idle timeout (default 3600s for TCP established). In real-world scenarios, a session with `duration=3600` and `expire=3599` indicates it was just refreshed or is at the start of its timeout window, not about to expire.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the NSE4 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
System and Network Administration — This question tests System and Network Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The session is in established state and has been active for 1 hour — Option A is correct because the output shows `proto=6` (TCP), `proto_state=01` (ESTABLISHED state per Fortinet's session state encoding), `duration=3600` seconds (1 hour), and `expire=3599` seconds (nearly full lifetime remaining). This indicates the session is actively established and has been ongoing for one hour, matching the description of an established state session.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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