NSE7 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics Practice Question
An administrator is troubleshooting a FortiGate that is experiencing high CPU usage. The administrator wants to identify which processes are consuming the most CPU. Which command should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is using a command that only shows overall CPU usage without per-process details, which is insufficient to identify the specific process causing high CPU.
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
✓
diagnose sys top
The correct command is 'diagnose sys top' because it provides a real-time, per-process view of CPU and memory usage. This allows the administrator to quickly identify which process is causing high CPU and take corrective action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
get system performance status
Why it's wrong here
This command provides a summary of system performance, including CPU and memory usage, but it does not list individual processes. It gives overall statistics, which can confirm high CPU but does not identify the specific processes causing it.
- ✗
diagnose hardware sysinfo cpu
Why it's wrong here
This command displays CPU information such as model, speed, and current utilization, but it does not break down usage by process. It provides a high-level view of CPU load, not the per-process details needed to identify the culprit.
- ✓
diagnose sys top
Why this is correct
This command displays a real-time list of running processes along with their CPU and memory usage. It is the primary tool to identify which processes are consuming the most CPU on a FortiGate. The administrator can sort by CPU usage and take appropriate action.
- ✗
diagnose sys process list
Why it's wrong here
This command lists all running processes but does not show their CPU or memory usage. It is useful for verifying if a process is running, but not for identifying resource consumption. It would not help pinpoint the high CPU consumer.
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JA
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.