NSE7 Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers 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.
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.
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.
- ✗
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.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.