The answer is that the session is a TCP session in established state that has been up for 3600 seconds and will expire in 3599 seconds. This is correct because the proto=6 field indicates TCP, while proto_state=01 specifically represents the established state in Fortinet’s session table, meaning the three-way handshake has completed and data can flow. The duration field shows the total time the session has been alive (3600 seconds), and the expire field shows the remaining idle timeout (3599 seconds) before the session is torn down if no further packets are sent. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this diagnose sys session output interpretation tests your ability to read real-time session diagnostics for troubleshooting firewall behavior, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must differentiate between active, half-open, or closing states. A common trap is confusing proto_state=01 with a SYN state or misreading expire as total session lifetime—remember that expire counts down from the idle timeout, not from the session start. Memory tip: think of “01” as the number “1” for “established,” and duration is the age, expire is the remaining life.
NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of advanced networking and sd-wan. 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:
proto=6 proto_state=01 duration=3600 expire=3599
What does this indicate about the session?
The session is a multicast session with a duration of 3600 seconds.
Why wrong: proto=6 is TCP, not multicast.
B
The session is a TCP session in established state that has been up for 3600 seconds and will expire in 3599 seconds.
proto=6 means TCP, proto_state=01 typically indicates established state. Duration is the time since session creation, expire is the remaining time before the session is removed if idle.
C
The session is in SYN_SENT state and has timed out after 3600 seconds.
Why wrong: proto_state=01 is not SYN_SENT; it indicates established.
D
The session is a UDP session that has been active for 3600 seconds.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The session is a TCP session in established state that has been up for 3600 seconds and will expire in 3599 seconds.
The output shows a TCP session in established state (proto_state=01) that has been alive for 3600 seconds and the idle timeout will expire in 3599 seconds if no packets are sent.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The session is a multicast session with a duration of 3600 seconds.
The session is a TCP session in established state that has been up for 3600 seconds and will expire in 3599 seconds.
Why this is correct
proto=6 means TCP, proto_state=01 typically indicates established state. Duration is the time since session creation, expire is the remaining time before the session is removed if idle.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The session is in SYN_SENT state and has timed out after 3600 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
proto_state=01 is not SYN_SENT; it indicates established.
✗
The session is a UDP session that has been active for 3600 seconds.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which NSE7 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Advanced Networking and SD-WAN — This question tests Advanced Networking and SD-WAN — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The session is a TCP session in established state that has been up for 3600 seconds and will expire in 3599 seconds. — The output shows a TCP session in established state (proto_state=01) that has been alive for 3600 seconds and the idle timeout will expire in 3599 seconds if no packets are sent.
What should I do if I get this NSE7 question wrong?
Identify which NSE7 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 about the session?
medium
✓ A.The session has been active for 1 hour and will expire in about 1 hour
B.The session is about to expire and will be removed soon
C.The session is using UDP protocol
D.The session is in a half-open state
Why A: The output shows a TCP session (proto=6) in state 01 (established), duration of 3600 seconds (1 hour), and expire time of 3599 seconds (almost 1 hour remaining). This indicates a long-running HTTPS session that is still active.
Variation 2. A FortiGate administrator sees the following output:
"diagnose sys session filter dport 443
diagnose sys session list
session info: proto=6 proto_state=01 duration=3600 expire=3599"
What does this session duration and expire time indicate?
medium
✓ A.The session has a timeout of 7200 seconds (2 hours)
B.The session is about to be torn down
C.The session is newly established
D.The session is using UDP protocol
Why A: Duration 3600 seconds (1 hour) and expire 3599 seconds means the session has been active for 1 hour and will expire in about 1 hour, total timeout 2 hours, which matches the default TCP session timeout.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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.
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