The answer is that the FortiView database is corrupted or needs to be rebuilt, and that the FortiGate is only forwarding event logs instead of traffic logs. FortiView generates its traffic data visualizations specifically from traffic logs—such as firewall, application control, or web filter logs—so if the FortiGate’s log forwarding policy is misconfigured to send only event logs like admin or system logs, FortiView will show no traffic data even though logs are received. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of log types and FortiAnalyzer’s data processing pipeline; a common trap is assuming any log receipt guarantees traffic visibility. Remember the memory tip: “Traffic for the view, events for the log”—if you see logs but no traffic in FortiView, check that traffic logs are actually being forwarded, not just event logs.
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 network administrator is troubleshooting a scenario where FortiView in FortiAnalyzer shows no traffic data for a specific FortiGate, but logs are being received. Which two possible causes should the administrator investigate? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The FortiGate is not sending traffic logs; only event logs are being forwarded
Option C is correct because FortiView relies on traffic logs (e.g., traffic, firewall, or application control logs) to generate its visualizations. If the FortiGate is only forwarding event logs (e.g., admin, system, or VPN logs) but not traffic logs, FortiView will show no traffic data even though logs are being received. This is a common misconfiguration in log forwarding policies on the FortiGate.
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 FortiGate's clock is not synchronized with FortiAnalyzer
Why it's wrong here
Clock skew would affect correlations but not prevent FortiView from showing data.
✗
The FortiAnalyzer ADOM is configured as a global ADOM
Why it's wrong here
Global ADOM affects object sharing, not FortiView display.
✓
The FortiGate is not sending traffic logs; only event logs are being forwarded
Why this is correct
FortiView requires traffic logs to populate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The FortiView database is corrupted or needs to be rebuilt
Why this is correct
Database issues can prevent FortiView from displaying data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The FortiAnalyzer disk is full and not indexing new logs
Why it's wrong here
If logs are received, disk full would prevent storage, but logs are being received.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume any log reception implies traffic data is available for FortiView, but FortiView specifically requires traffic logs, not just any log type, and a corrupted database can silently break FortiView while other log viewing features remain functional.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Clock skew would affect correlations but not prevent FortiView from showing data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
FortiView in FortiAnalyzer aggregates and displays data from traffic logs stored in the SQL database (logdb). If traffic logs are not forwarded from the FortiGate (e.g., due to a missing or misconfigured log forwarding policy for traffic logs under Log & Report > Log Config > Log Setting), FortiView will have no data to query. Additionally, if the FortiView database becomes corrupted (Option D), the SQL tables may fail to update, requiring a rebuild via the CLI command 'execute fortiview rebuild-database' to restore functionality.
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 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
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 — 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: The FortiGate is not sending traffic logs; only event logs are being forwarded — Option C is correct because FortiView relies on traffic logs (e.g., traffic, firewall, or application control logs) to generate its visualizations. If the FortiGate is only forwarding event logs (e.g., admin, system, or VPN logs) but not traffic logs, FortiView will show no traffic data even though logs are being received. This is a common misconfiguration in log forwarding policies on the FortiGate.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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