Quick Answer
The correct answer is that a TCP session on port 443 has been active for 1 hour and will expire in 3599 seconds. This is determined by parsing the output of the `diagnose sys session filter dport 443` command, where `proto=6` indicates TCP, `duration=3600` shows the session has been live for 3600 seconds (one hour), and `expire=3599` means the session will be removed from the session table in 3599 seconds. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this command tests your ability to read real-time session table diagnostics, a critical skill for troubleshooting firewall behavior and understanding stateful inspection. A common trap is confusing `duration` with `expire`—remember that duration counts backward from session creation, while expire counts down to session deletion. For a memory tip, think of a one-hour parking meter: the time you’ve already parked is the duration, and the time left on the meter is the expire value.
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of enterprise firewall and vdoms. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An administrator runs 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' and sees the following output: proto=6 proto_state=01 duration=3600 expire=3599 What does this indicate?
The session has expired and is being removed
Why wrong: expire=3599 indicates it is still valid.
A UDP session on port 443 is being blocked
Why wrong: proto=6 is TCP, not UDP.
The firewall policy is incorrectly configured
Why wrong: No policy information is shown.
A TCP session on port 443 has been active for 1 hour and will expire in 3599 seconds
The session is established and in state 01 (established).
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
A TCP session on port 443 has been active for 1 hour and will expire in 3599 seconds
Option D is correct because the output shows a TCP session (proto=6) on port 443 with a duration of 3600 seconds (1 hour) and an expire value of 3599 seconds, meaning the session has been active for 1 hour and will expire in 3599 seconds. The 'proto=6' indicates TCP, and 'proto_state=01' is the TCP established state, confirming an active TCP session.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The session has expired and is being removed
Why it's wrong here
expire=3599 indicates it is still valid.
A UDP session on port 443 is being blocked
The firewall policy is incorrectly configured
Why it's wrong here
No policy information is shown.
A TCP session on port 443 has been active for 1 hour and will expire in 3599 seconds
Why this is correct
The session is established and in state 01 (established).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may misinterpret 'expire=3599' as the session expiring soon or already expired, when in fact it indicates the remaining time before timeout, and the session is still active with a duration of 3600 seconds.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
No policy information is shown.
Detailed technical explanation
In FortiOS, 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' filters sessions by destination port 443, and the output shows session details including protocol number (6 for TCP), protocol state (01 for TCP established), duration in seconds since session creation, and expire time in seconds until session timeout. The session timeout is typically based on the TCP idle timeout (default 3600 seconds for established sessions), and the expire value decrements as the session remains idle, resetting on traffic activity.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the NSE7 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — This question tests Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: A TCP session on port 443 has been active for 1 hour and will expire in 3599 seconds — Option D is correct because the output shows a TCP session (proto=6) on port 443 with a duration of 3600 seconds (1 hour) and an expire value of 3599 seconds, meaning the session has been active for 1 hour and will expire in 3599 seconds. The 'proto=6' indicates TCP, and 'proto_state=01' is the TCP established state, confirming an active TCP session.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An administrator runs 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' and sees the following output: proto=6 proto_state=01 duration=3600 expire=3599 What does this indicate?
hardWhy C: The output shows `duration=3600` and `expire=3599`, meaning the session was established 3600 seconds (1 hour) ago and has 3599 seconds remaining before timeout. The `proto=6` indicates TCP (protocol 6), and `proto_state=01` corresponds to TCP state ESTABLISHED. Therefore, the session is active and will expire in about 1 hour from the current time, making option C correct.
Variation 2. An administrator runs 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' and sees 'proto=6 proto_state=01 duration=3600 expire=3599'. What does this indicate?
mediumWhy B: The output shows 'proto=6', which is TCP (protocol 6), and 'proto_state=01', which in FortiGate's session table indicates the TCP SYN_SENT state (the first step of the three-way handshake). The 'duration=3600' means the session has been alive for 3600 seconds, and 'expire=3599' means it will expire in 3599 seconds if no further packets are seen. Therefore, the session is in the TCP SYN_SENT state, making option B correct.
Variation 3. An administrator runs 'diagnose sys session filter dport 443' and sees: proto=6 proto_state=01 duration=3600 expire=3599 What does this indicate about the session?
hardWhy D: The output shows `proto=6`, which indicates TCP (protocol 6). The `proto_state=01` corresponds to the TCP state for an established connection (ESTABLISHED). The `duration=3600` and `expire=3599` confirm the session has been active for 3600 seconds and will expire in 3599 seconds, which is typical for a long-lived established TCP session. Therefore, option D is correct.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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