Question 1hardmultiple choice
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Quick Answer
The answer is that the sessions are TCP connections in an established state with a duration of 3600 seconds. This is correct because in FortiGate session diagnostics, the proto_state field uses a numeric code where 01 specifically represents a TCP session in the established state, meaning the three-way handshake has completed and data is actively flowing. The duration field is always measured in seconds, so a value of 3600 indicates the session has been active for exactly one hour. On the Fortinet NSE 4 Network Security Professional NSE4 exam, this question tests your ability to interpret the output of the diagnose sys session filter command, a critical skill for troubleshooting connectivity issues and understanding session lifecycles. A common trap is confusing proto_state=01 with a SYN_SENT or FIN_WAIT state, but remember that 01 is the established state—the only state where bidirectional traffic is fully passing. For a quick memory tip, think of 01 as the number one connection that is fully up and running.
NSE4 System and Network Administration Practice Question
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 the following CLI command on a FortiGate: 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' and sees output indicating sessions with proto_state=01 and duration=3600. What does this indicate about the sessions?
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
✓
The sessions are TCP connections in established state with a duration of 3600 seconds.
The CLI command 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' filters sessions with destination port 443, which is the default HTTPS port. The output shows 'proto_state=01' and 'duration=3600'. In FortiGate session diagnostics, 'proto_state=01' indicates a TCP session in the established state (state 1), and 'duration' is the time in seconds since the session was created, so 3600 seconds means the session has been active for one hour. Option C correctly identifies this.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing the 'duration' field (elapsed time since session creation) with a timeout or TTL value, and misinterpreting 'proto_state=01' as a generic protocol indicator rather than a TCP state code.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
FortiGate's session table tracks TCP connection states using a numeric code: 0x01 for established, 0x02 for SYN_SENT, 0x04 for SYN_RECV, etc. The 'duration' field is the uptime of the session in seconds, which is crucial for troubleshooting long-lived connections like HTTPS keep-alive sessions. In real-world scenarios, a duration of 3600 seconds might indicate a persistent connection that could be affected by session timeout policies or firewall resource limits.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this NSE4 question test?
System and Network Administration — This question tests System and Network Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The sessions are TCP connections in established state with a duration of 3600 seconds. — The CLI command 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' filters sessions with destination port 443, which is the default HTTPS port. The output shows 'proto_state=01' and 'duration=3600'. In FortiGate session diagnostics, 'proto_state=01' indicates a TCP session in the established state (state 1), and 'duration' is the time in seconds since the session was created, so 3600 seconds means the session has been active for one hour. Option C correctly identifies this.
What should I do if I get this NSE4 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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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