NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
An administrator is configuring an SD-WAN rule to route traffic to a specific destination through a preferred member, but wants to ensure that if that member fails, traffic automatically switches to another member. Which SD-WAN rule configuration setting should they use to define the order of member preference?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the load balancing algorithm with member preference order; the algorithm distributes traffic, while the member sequence defines failover priority.
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
✓
Member sequence in the SD-WAN rule
To define a preferred order of members for failover in an SD-WAN rule, the administrator should list the members in the desired sequence within the rule configuration. The FortiGate will use the first available member according to that order when the strategy is 'manual' or when failover is triggered. This ensures deterministic behavior.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Member sequence in the SD-WAN rule
Why this is correct
In an SD-WAN rule, members are listed in a specific order. The FortiGate uses this order as a preference sequence when the strategy is set to 'manual' or when failover occurs. The first member in the list is preferred; if it becomes unavailable, the next member is used. This provides a deterministic failover order.
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SLA target
Why it's wrong here
SLA targets are used to monitor member health based on performance metrics like latency, jitter, and packet loss. They do not define the order of preference among members. While SLA can influence member selection in strategies like 'lowest cost', it does not set a strict sequence.
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Load balancing algorithm
Why it's wrong here
The load balancing algorithm (e.g., source-ip-based, lowest-cost) determines how traffic is distributed among members, not the preference order. For failover, the algorithm may consider member health, but it does not define a strict order of preference. This is not the correct setting.
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Priority
Why it's wrong here
Priority is not a direct setting in SD-WAN rules. While some strategies like 'lowest cost' use performance SLA metrics to determine preference, there is no explicit 'priority' field. The order of members is determined by the strategy and the member's status, not a priority value.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Fortinet exam blueprint
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.