Question 1hardmultiple choice
Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →- C
The session has completed load balancing and is being forwarded out the sdwan interface
Why wrong: If completed, the state would be different.
Question 305 of 1,000
Quick Answer
The answer is that the session is being held until the SD-WAN load balancing decision is made. This hex value, 01000048, combines flags such as dest_valid and likely_proto, but the critical component is the 01000000 bit, which in FortiGate session states indicates ECMP pending status. When a session’s destination interface is sdwan, this flag means the session is queued and waiting for the SD-WAN rule engine to select the optimal egress path, so the session is not yet fully established. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security exam, this tests your ability to decode session state hex values rather than memorizing them—a common trap is confusing this with a session that has already been load-balanced. A useful memory tip: think of the leading 01 as “one path not yet chosen,” reminding you that the session is in a holding pattern for SD-WAN’s decision.
NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of advanced networking and sd-wan. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
A FortiGate administrator runs 'diagnose sys session list' and sees a session for which the destination interface is 'sdwan'. The session is marked with 'state=01000048'. What does this state indicate about the session?
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
✓
The session is being held until the SD-WAN load balancing decision is made
In FortiGate session states, the hex value '01000048' corresponds to flags including 'dest_valid' and 'likely_proto'. The flag '01000000' typically indicates the session is using ECMP. In the context of an SD-WAN interface, this state suggests that the session is undergoing load balancing and is waiting for the route to be resolved. More specifically, a session state like this often means the session is in 'ECMP pending' state. Among the options, the closest is that the session is waiting for SD-WAN load balancing decision. Option C is the correct interpretation.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 has completed load balancing and is being forwarded out the sdwan interface
Why it's wrong here
If completed, the state would be different.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related NSE7 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Advanced Networking and SD-WAN — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this NSE7 question test?
Advanced Networking and SD-WAN — This question tests Advanced Networking and SD-WAN — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The session is being held until the SD-WAN load balancing decision is made — In FortiGate session states, the hex value '01000048' corresponds to flags including 'dest_valid' and 'likely_proto'. The flag '01000000' typically indicates the session is using ECMP. In the context of an SD-WAN interface, this state suggests that the session is undergoing load balancing and is waiting for the route to be resolved. More specifically, a session state like this often means the session is in 'ECMP pending' state. Among the options, the closest is that the session is waiting for SD-WAN load balancing decision. Option C is the correct interpretation.
What should I do if I get this NSE7 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related NSE7 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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