NSE7 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics Practice Question
An administrator needs to check the current CPU and memory usage of a FortiGate to determine if resource exhaustion is causing network delays. Which CLI command provides a real-time, top-like view of processes and their resource consumption?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse a one-time performance snapshot with a live process monitor; 'get system performance status' gives a summary, not a dynamic view.
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', which offers a dynamic, top-like view of processes and their CPU/memory usage. It is the primary tool for real-time resource monitoring on FortiGate, allowing administrators to quickly identify resource-heavy processes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
diagnose sys session stat
Why it's wrong here
This command displays session statistics, such as the number of sessions and session setup rates. It does not show CPU or memory usage per process. While session counts can impact performance, this command does not provide the real-time process monitoring needed to diagnose resource exhaustion.
- ✗
diagnose hardware sysinfo memory
Why it's wrong here
This command shows detailed memory information, such as total, used, and free memory, but it does not provide a real-time process view. It is useful for checking memory statistics but not for identifying which process is using CPU or memory dynamically.
- ✓
diagnose sys top
Why this is correct
The 'diagnose sys top' command provides an interactive, top-like display of running processes, sorted by CPU or memory usage. It updates in real time and allows the administrator to identify which processes are consuming the most resources. This is the correct tool for live troubleshooting of resource exhaustion.
- ✗
get system performance status
Why it's wrong here
This command displays a summary of system performance, including CPU and memory usage, but it is a one-time snapshot, not a real-time, interactive view. It does not show individual processes or update dynamically, so it is less useful for identifying which process is consuming resources.
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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.