NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
A network administrator needs to configure SD-WAN on a FortiGate to distribute traffic across two WAN links based on session count. Which load balancing algorithm should be selected in the SD-WAN rule?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse 'Sessions' with 'Volume' or 'Spillover', as candidates often assume bandwidth-based algorithms (like Volume) are the default for session distribution, but FortiGate's SD-WAN explicitly separates session count from byte volume in its load balancing 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
✓
Sessions
The 'Sessions' load balancing algorithm distributes new sessions across SD-WAN members based on the current session count, ensuring an even distribution of sessions. This directly matches the requirement to distribute traffic based on session count, as it selects the member with the fewest active sessions for each new session.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Volume
Why it's wrong here
Volume distributes based on traffic volume, not session count.
- ✗
Lowest-cost
Why it's wrong here
Lowest-cost uses cost metrics from performance SLA.
- ✗
Spillover
Why it's wrong here
Spillover uses a threshold before switching to another member.
- ✓
Sessions
Why this is correct
Sessions algorithm balances based on the number of active sessions.
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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.