- A
The VDOM link is in the wrong VDOM
Why wrong: If the VDOM link is created, it exists in both VDOMs; misplacement would prevent any traffic from reaching the link.
- B
A firewall policy is blocking the traffic from the VDOM link to the destination
Traffic entering a VDOM must match a policy. If no policy permits the traffic, it is dropped. The session table would show the packet arriving but no forward decision.
- C
The routing table in VDOM-1 does not have a default route
Why wrong: The route to the server's subnet should be via the VDOM link, but if packets arrive at the link, routing is likely correct.
- D
The VDOM link is not administratively up
Why wrong: If the link is down, packets would not arrive at the interface. The symptom is packets arriving but not forwarded.
NSE7 Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs Practice Question
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of enterprise firewall and vdoms. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 administrator is troubleshooting a scenario where users in VDOM-1 cannot reach a server in VDOM-2. Inter-VDOM routing is configured using a VDOM link. The administrator checks the session table and sees that packets are arriving on the VDOM link interface but are not being forwarded. What is the MOST likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
A firewall policy is blocking the traffic from the VDOM link to the destination
When packets arrive on the VDOM link interface but are not forwarded, the issue is typically a missing or misconfigured firewall policy in the destination VDOM (VDOM-2). Even though inter-VDOM routing is correctly set up via the VDOM link, FortiGate requires an explicit firewall policy in the destination VDOM to permit traffic from the VDOM link interface to the destination server. Without this policy, the FortiGate drops the packets after routing, which matches the symptom of packets arriving but not being forwarded.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 VDOM link is in the wrong VDOM
Why it's wrong here
If the VDOM link is created, it exists in both VDOMs; misplacement would prevent any traffic from reaching the link.
- ✓
A firewall policy is blocking the traffic from the VDOM link to the destination
Why this is correct
Traffic entering a VDOM must match a policy. If no policy permits the traffic, it is dropped. The session table would show the packet arriving but no forward decision.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The routing table in VDOM-1 does not have a default route
Why it's wrong here
The route to the server's subnet should be via the VDOM link, but if packets arrive at the link, routing is likely correct.
- ✗
The VDOM link is not administratively up
Why it's wrong here
If the link is down, packets would not arrive at the interface. The symptom is packets arriving but not forwarded.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume inter-VDOM routing bypasses firewall policies, but FortiGate still enforces policies in each VDOM, so a missing policy in the destination VDOM is the most likely cause when packets arrive but are not forwarded.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Inter-VDOM routing via VDOM links uses a virtual point-to-point connection between VDOMs, but traffic crossing the link must still pass through the firewall engine in the destination VDOM. The FortiGate applies firewall policies based on the ingress interface (the VDOM link interface) and the egress interface (the destination server's interface), so a policy must explicitly allow the traffic. A common real-world scenario is when an administrator configures routing correctly but forgets to add a policy in the destination VDOM, leading to dropped sessions that appear as 'no matching policy' in the traffic log.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All NSE7 questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
NSE7 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related NSE7 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Advanced Networking and SD-WAN practice questions
Practise NSE7 questions linked to Advanced Networking and SD-WAN.
Advanced VPN and Zero Trust practice questions
Practise NSE7 questions linked to Advanced VPN and Zero Trust.
Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs practice questions
Practise NSE7 questions linked to Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs.
Advanced Threat Protection practice questions
Practise NSE7 questions linked to Advanced Threat Protection.
Troubleshooting and Diagnostics practice questions
Practise NSE7 questions linked to Troubleshooting and Diagnostics.
NSE7 fundamentals practice questions
Practise NSE7 questions linked to NSE7 fundamentals.
NSE7 scenario practice questions
Practise NSE7 questions linked to NSE7 scenario.
NSE7 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise NSE7 questions linked to NSE7 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free NSE7 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this NSE7 question test?
Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — This question tests Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A firewall policy is blocking the traffic from the VDOM link to the destination — When packets arrive on the VDOM link interface but are not forwarded, the issue is typically a missing or misconfigured firewall policy in the destination VDOM (VDOM-2). Even though inter-VDOM routing is correctly set up via the VDOM link, FortiGate requires an explicit firewall policy in the destination VDOM to permit traffic from the VDOM link interface to the destination server. Without this policy, the FortiGate drops the packets after routing, which matches the symptom of packets arriving but not being forwarded.
What should I do if I get this NSE7 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This NSE7 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 NSE7 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.