Quick Answer
The answer is to run the command 'show firewall policy' on the FortiGate CLI. This command is the quickest way to verify firewall policy applied on FortiGate because it reads the actual policy set currently loaded in the kernel, displaying each policy ID along with its enabled or disabled status. Unlike debug logs or management-plane queries, this command provides an immediate, ground-truth view of what the data plane is enforcing, which is essential when troubleshooting why a newly created policy installed via FortiManager isn't affecting traffic. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this question tests your understanding of the separation between the management plane (FortiManager) and the data plane (FortiGate kernel), and a common trap is assuming that a policy is active simply because it appears in the FortiManager GUI. Remember the memory tip: "Show the kernel, not the manager"—if you need to confirm a policy is live, skip the GUI and go straight to the CLI with 'show firewall policy'.
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 why a new firewall policy is not being applied to traffic. The policy has been created and installed via FortiManager. What is the quickest way to verify the current state of the policy on the FortiGate?
Use 'diagnose debug flow'
Why wrong: This is for detailed flow debugging, not quick verification.
Run 'execute fortimanager reindex'
Why wrong: This rebuilds the FortiManager index, not display policies.
Check FortiManager revision history
Why wrong: Revision history shows changes but not the current runtime state.
Run 'show firewall policy'
This shows the current policy configuration on the FortiGate.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Run 'show firewall policy'
Option D is correct because running 'show firewall policy' on the FortiGate CLI displays the currently active policy set in the kernel, including the policy ID and its enabled/disabled status. This is the quickest way to confirm whether the policy installed via FortiManager is actually present and active on the FortiGate, without generating debug logs or querying the management plane.
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.
Use 'diagnose debug flow'
Why it's wrong here
This is for detailed flow debugging, not quick verification.
Run 'execute fortimanager reindex'
Why it's wrong here
This rebuilds the FortiManager index, not display policies.
Check FortiManager revision history
Why it's wrong here
Revision history shows changes but not the current runtime state.
Run 'show firewall policy'
Why this is correct
This shows the current policy configuration on the FortiGate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the management plane (FortiManager revision history) with the data plane (FortiGate kernel policy table), leading them to choose an option that checks the manager instead of the actual device state.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Revision history shows changes but not the current runtime state.
Detailed technical explanation
The 'show firewall policy' command reads the policy table from the FortiGate's kernel, which is the authoritative source for traffic matching. When FortiManager pushes a policy, it is written to the FortiGate's configuration database and then compiled into the kernel; a policy may appear in the CLI configuration but be disabled or not yet compiled if the installation failed. In real-world scenarios, a common issue is that the policy ID exists in the config but is set to 'status: disable' or has a scheduling restriction, which 'show firewall policy' will immediately reveal.
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 NSE7 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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Run 'show firewall policy' — Option D is correct because running 'show firewall policy' on the FortiGate CLI displays the currently active policy set in the kernel, including the policy ID and its enabled/disabled status. This is the quickest way to confirm whether the policy installed via FortiManager is actually present and active on the FortiGate, without generating debug logs or querying the management plane.
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
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