NSE7 Troubleshooting and Diagnostics Practice Question
An administrator notices high CPU usage on a FortiGate. To identify which process is consuming the most CPU, which command should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse high-level performance commands like 'get system performance status' with process-level diagnostics, but only 'diagnose sys top' provides per-process CPU breakdown.
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 'diagnose sys top' command displays a real-time list of running processes on the FortiGate, sorted by CPU usage, allowing the administrator to identify which process is consuming the most CPU. This is the standard diagnostic tool for process-level CPU troubleshooting in FortiOS.
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 top
Why this is correct
The diagnose sys top command displays a live, sorted list of running processes with their CPU and memory consumption on FortiGate, letting the administrator pinpoint the exact process driving the high CPU usage reported in the stem.
- ✗
diagnose sys session stat
Why it's wrong here
Session statistics show session counts, setup rates and protocol distribution, not which process is consuming CPU. It is tempting because high session volume often drives CPU load, and it would be correct when diagnosing session-table exhaustion or traffic-pattern anomalies rather than process-level consumption.
- ✗
get system performance status
Why it's wrong here
This command returns overall CPU, memory and uptime figures without attributing load to individual processes. It is tempting because it is the obvious first check for performance, and it would be correct for confirming that CPU is genuinely high before drilling into per-process detail.
- ✗
diagnose hardware sysinfo
Why it's wrong here
This command reports hardware inventory and sensor readings such as temperature and fan status, not per-process CPU consumption. It is tempting because it is a general diagnostic, and it would be the right choice when investigating hardware faults or thermal alarms rather than identifying a CPU-hungry process.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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