NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
A network administrator is configuring SD-WAN on a FortiGate to control outbound internet traffic. The requirement is to load balance traffic across two WAN interfaces (port1 and port2) based on the number of new sessions, but only when both links are healthy. The administrator has added both interfaces to the SD-WAN zone and configured performance SLAs. Which TWO additional configuration steps are necessary to implement this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the global 'sla-check' enable command (Option E) with the per-rule SLA configuration, or they assume ECMP load balancing (Option A) is required for SD-WAN, when in fact SD-WAN uses its own load balancing algorithms and health checks independent of ECMP.
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
✓
Configure the SD-WAN rule to use a performance SLA for health checking
Configuring a performance SLA for health checking in the SD-WAN rule ensures that the FortiGate monitors link quality (latency, jitter, packet loss) and only considers links that meet the SLA thresholds as active for traffic distribution. This satisfies the requirement that load balancing occurs only when both links are healthy. Option C is correct because setting the load balancing algorithm to 'sessions' in the SD-WAN rule ensures that traffic is distributed based on the number of new sessions, as required. Without Option C, the default algorithm (e.g., source-destination IP) would not meet the session-based requirement. Options A, D, and E are incorrect: ECMP load balancing (A) is a routing-level feature independent of SD-WAN rules; policy-based routing (D) is not needed when using SD-WAN rules; and the global 'sla-check' enable (E) activates SLA monitoring but does not apply the per-rule health check and algorithm configuration required here.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable 'ECMP load balancing' in the routing settings
Why it's wrong here
ECMP is for routing, not SD-WAN load balancing.
- ✗
Configure a policy-based routing rule to direct traffic to the SD-WAN zone
Why it's wrong here
Policy-based routing is not needed; the SD-WAN rule itself directs traffic.
- ✗
Set the 'sla-check' under config system sdwan to 'enable'
Why it's wrong here
The sla-check is enabled automatically when referenced in a rule; no global setting.
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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.