NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
An administrator configures an SD-WAN rule with the 'volume' load balancing algorithm. The two WAN members have bandwidth capacities: port1 = 100 Mbps, port2 = 50 Mbps. Traffic is HTTP and HTTPS from internal users to the internet. How will the traffic be distributed?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse 'volume' with 'spillover' or 'session' algorithms, assuming traffic fills one link before using another, or that it distributes evenly per session, rather than understanding it balances based on cumulative bytes transmitted.
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
✓
Traffic is sent to the member with the least number of bytes transmitted, resulting in a balanced distribution proportional to bandwidth
The 'volume' load balancing algorithm distributes traffic based on the cumulative bytes transmitted on each WAN member, sending new traffic to the member with the least total bytes transmitted. This results in a distribution proportional to the bandwidth capacities (port1: 100 Mbps, port2: 50 Mbps), ensuring that port1 carries approximately twice the traffic volume of port2 over time.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Traffic is sent to the member with the least number of bytes transmitted, resulting in a balanced distribution proportional to bandwidth
Why this is correct
Volume algorithm tracks bytes transmitted and sends new traffic to the least loaded member.
- ✗
All traffic uses port1 until it reaches 100 Mbps, then uses port2
Why it's wrong here
That describes spillover, not volume.
- ✗
Traffic is distributed evenly session-by-session (round-robin)
Why it's wrong here
The volume algorithm is not round-robin; it uses byte counts.
- ✗
Source-destination IP pairs are hashed to a specific member
Why it's wrong here
That describes source-dest-ip algorithm.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 940 original NSE7 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.