Question 1hardmultiple choice
Read the full VPN explanation →Question 805 of 1,000
Quick Answer
The answer is that the aggregator has two static routes with equal cost to the remote subnet. This is the direct cause because MPVPN itself only provides redundancy and failover between peers, not load balancing. When two static routes exist with identical administrative distance and metric, the FortiGate automatically performs Equal-Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) routing, distributing traffic across both next hops. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between MPVPN’s role and the underlying routing behavior that actually creates load balancing. A common trap is assuming MPVPN inherently balances traffic, but the key is that ECMP is triggered by the routing table, not the VPN configuration. Remember: MPVPN for redundancy, ECMP for load balancing—if you see two static routes with equal cost, expect traffic to split across both peers.
NSE7 Advanced VPN and Zero Trust Practice Question
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of advanced vpn and zero trust. 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.
An administrator configures Multi-Peer VPN (MPVPN) on a FortiGate aggregator. The aggregator has two phase1 configurations for the same remote subnet but different peers. The aggregator's routing table shows both peers as next hops. The administrator notices that traffic between the aggregator and the remote subnet is load-balanced across both peers. What is the cause?
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 aggregator has two static routes with equal cost to the remote subnet.
MPVPN itself does not load balance; it provides redundancy. Load balancing occurs if multiple routes to the same destination exist with equal administrative distance and cost. Static routes with equal distance cause ECMP behavior. BGP with equal metrics can also cause it, but the question states static routes are in the routing table.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related NSE7 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this NSE7 question test?
Advanced VPN and Zero Trust — This question tests Advanced VPN and Zero Trust — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The aggregator has two static routes with equal cost to the remote subnet. — MPVPN itself does not load balance; it provides redundancy. Load balancing occurs if multiple routes to the same destination exist with equal administrative distance and cost. Static routes with equal distance cause ECMP behavior. BGP with equal metrics can also cause it, but the question states static routes are in the routing table.
What should I do if I get this NSE7 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related NSE7 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
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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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