NSE7 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics Practice Question
An administrator configures a session helper for FTP but notices that active FTP data connections are not being allowed through the firewall. The FTP control session establishes fine. What is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume the FTP session helper is automatically enabled when FTP traffic is allowed, but in FortiGate it must be explicitly configured on the policy, and they may confuse passive mode (which works without helpers) with active mode requirements.
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
✓
The FTP session helper is not enabled on the firewall policy
The session helper for FTP is a feature that must be explicitly enabled on the firewall policy to inspect and dynamically create pinholes for active FTP data connections. If the session helper is not enabled on the policy, the firewall will only allow the control session (port 21) but will not open the necessary high ports for the data channel, causing active FTP to fail while passive mode (which uses the control session for data negotiation) may still work.
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 FTP server is using passive mode
Why it's wrong here
Passive mode works differently; active FTP is the issue here.
- ✓
The FTP session helper is not enabled on the firewall policy
Why this is correct
Without the session helper enabled, FortiGate will not inspect FTP control traffic and will not open pinholes for data connections.
- ✗
The ALG is configured to use proxy-based inspection instead of flow-based
Why it's wrong here
Both inspection modes support session helpers; this is not the cause.
- ✗
The firewall policy has NAT enabled
Why it's wrong here
NAT does not prevent session helpers from working.
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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.