Quick Answer
The answer is that the session is established and has been active for 3600 seconds. This is correct because `proto_state=01` in FortiGate’s `diagnose sys session` output maps directly to TCP_ESTABLISHED, which is state 1 in the TCP state machine, confirming a fully open and active connection. The `duration=3600` value shows the session has been live for exactly one hour, while `expire=3599` indicates the remaining time before the session times out, meaning it was just refreshed. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this command tests your ability to interpret session table output when filtering by destination port 443, a common HTTPS troubleshooting scenario. A frequent trap is confusing `proto_state=01` with a half-open or SYN_SENT state, but remember that established TCP sessions always show state 1, while states like 2 (SYN_RECV) or 3 (FIN_WAIT) indicate incomplete or closing connections. Memory tip: “01 is one fully open connection” — think of the 1 as a straight line representing an established link.
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of enterprise firewall and vdoms. 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.
A FortiGate admin runs the following command: 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' and sees output indicating sessions with state 'proto_state=01' and 'duration=3600, expire=3599'. What does this indicate about the session?
The session is established and has been active for 3600 seconds
proto_state=01 means established. Duration is how long it's been active.
The session has timed out and is being removed
Why wrong: expire=3599 means it will expire in 3599 seconds, so it's still active.
The session is in a closing state
Why wrong: Closing state would have different values.
The session is in a half-open state
Why wrong: Half-open state is usually 00.
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 established and has been active for 3600 seconds
The command 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' filters sessions with destination port 443 (HTTPS). The output shows 'duration=3600, expire=3599', meaning the session has been active for 3600 seconds and will expire in 3599 seconds. The 'proto_state=01' indicates a TCP session in the established state (state 1 = TCP_ESTABLISHED). This confirms the session is fully established and actively tracked by the FortiGate session table.
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 established and has been active for 3600 seconds
Why this is correct
proto_state=01 means established. Duration is how long it's been active.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The session has timed out and is being removed
Why it's wrong here
expire=3599 means it will expire in 3599 seconds, so it's still active.
The session is in a closing state
Why it's wrong here
Closing state would have different values.
The session is in a half-open state
Why it's wrong here
Half-open state is usually 00.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'duration' with 'timeout' or assume a high duration means the session is about to expire, when in fact 'expire' shows remaining time and 'proto_state=01' confirms an established session.
Detailed technical explanation
FortiGate uses a session table to track stateful firewall sessions, with each session having a 'proto_state' field that maps to TCP states (e.g., 01 = ESTABLISHED, 02 = FIN_WAIT, 03 = CLOSE_WAIT). The 'duration' and 'expire' values are in seconds; 'expire' is the remaining time before the session is removed due to idle timeout. For HTTPS (port 443), the default TCP session timeout is typically 3600 seconds, so a session with duration=3600 and expire=3599 has just been refreshed or is near its initial creation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — This question tests Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The session is established and has been active for 3600 seconds — The command 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' filters sessions with destination port 443 (HTTPS). The output shows 'duration=3600, expire=3599', meaning the session has been active for 3600 seconds and will expire in 3599 seconds. The 'proto_state=01' indicates a TCP session in the established state (state 1 = TCP_ESTABLISHED). This confirms the session is fully established and actively tracked by the FortiGate session table.
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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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An admin 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?
hardWhy C: Option C is correct because the output shows `proto=6` (TCP), `proto_state=01` (ESTABLISHED in Fortinet's session table), `duration=3600` seconds (1 hour), and `expire=3599` seconds (remaining lifetime). This combination indicates a fully established TCP session that has been active for one hour and is still valid, not blocked or in a transitional state.
Variation 2. A network admin 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?
mediumWhy A: The output shows `duration=3600`, meaning the session has been active for 3600 seconds (1 hour), and `expire=3599`, meaning the session will expire in 3599 seconds (approximately 1 hour). The `proto=6` indicates TCP (protocol 6), and `proto_state=01` corresponds to TCP state ESTABLISHED. Therefore, the session was established 1 hour ago and will expire in about 1 hour, making option A correct.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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