Quick Answer
The answer is that you must both create a firewall policy between the VRF interfaces and configure a route leak or inter-VRF policy route. This is required because VRFs create separate virtual routing tables, so traffic from the Finance VRF cannot reach the default VRF without a route leak to bridge the routing tables, and the firewall policy is needed to explicitly permit that traffic between the isolated domains. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this question tests your understanding that inter-VRF communication is a two-step process: routing and security, and a common trap is thinking that simply adding a firewall policy is enough without also leaking routes. Remember the memory tip: "Leak the route, then permit the shoot" — routing must come first, then the firewall policy to allow the traffic.
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of advanced networking and sd-wan. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 is configured with multiple VRFs to segregate traffic from different departments. The administrator needs to allow the Finance VRF to access a shared printer in the default VRF. Which TWO steps are required to enable inter-VRF communication?
Configure OSPF to redistribute routes between VRFs
Why wrong: OSPF does not automatically redistribute between VRFs; you need explicitly configured leak routes.
Place both the Finance and default VRF interfaces into the same zone
Why wrong: Zones do not handle inter-VRF routing.
Assign the printer's IP address to an interface in the Finance VRF
Why wrong: That would move the printer, not enable inter-VRF communication.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Configure a leak route from the Finance VRF to the default VRF for the printer's subnet
To route between VRFs, you need a route leak. This can be done using leak routes under config router vrf, or by using policy-based routing between VRFs. Firewall policies between VRFs are also required to permit the traffic. Option B is correct: firewall policies must be configured between the two VRFs. Option D is correct: a route leak (or inter-VRF policy route) must be configured to enable routing between VRFs. Option A is not required if you leak routes. Option C is not the primary method; a leak route is more appropriate. Option E is not necessary if you use route leaking.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Configure OSPF to redistribute routes between VRFs
Why it's wrong here
OSPF does not automatically redistribute between VRFs; you need explicitly configured leak routes.
Place both the Finance and default VRF interfaces into the same zone
Why it's wrong here
Zones do not handle inter-VRF routing.
Assign the printer's IP address to an interface in the Finance VRF
Why it's wrong here
That would move the printer, not enable inter-VRF communication.
Common exam traps
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Real-world example
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related NSE7 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
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FAQ
Advanced Networking and SD-WAN — This question tests Advanced Networking and SD-WAN — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
The correct answer is: Configure a leak route from the Finance VRF to the default VRF for the printer's subnet — To route between VRFs, you need a route leak. This can be done using leak routes under config router vrf, or by using policy-based routing between VRFs. Firewall policies between VRFs are also required to permit the traffic. Option B is correct: firewall policies must be configured between the two VRFs. Option D is correct: a route leak (or inter-VRF policy route) must be configured to enable routing between VRFs. Option A is not required if you leak routes. Option C is not the primary method; a leak route is more appropriate. Option E is not necessary if you use route leaking.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related NSE7 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Same concept, more angles
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Variation 1. You have configured VRF on a FortiGate with two VRFs: VRF 1 for guest traffic and VRF 2 for corporate traffic. You want to allow limited communication from guests to a corporate DNS server. What is the correct configuration step?
hardWhy C: VRF leaking requires route leaking between VRFs; a firewall policy alone does not cross VRFs unless routes are leaked.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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