- A
The SD-WAN health-check is configured with 'update-static-route' and is overriding OSPF routes.
Why wrong: Health-check updates static routes, not OSPF routes.
- B
The administrative distance of OSPF is set to 200, which is higher than the default 110.
Why wrong: Even if distance is 200, OSPF routes would still be installed unless there is a conflict with another route of lower distance. Since no other route exists, they should be installed.
- C
A distribute-list configured under OSPF is filtering the routes from being installed.
A distribute-list in OSPF can filter which routes are installed into the routing table, even if neighbors are up.
- D
The OSPF interface is configured as 'passive', which prevents route exchange.
Why wrong: A passive interface does not send or receive OSPF packets; neighbors would not form, but the question states neighbors are established.
Quick Answer
The answer is a distribute-list configured under OSPF that is filtering the routes from being installed. This is correct because a distribute-list operates after the SPF calculation and before the route insertion into the routing table, so OSPF neighbors can be fully established and the OSPF database can contain the routes, yet the FortiGate will not install them. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the OSPF route installation pipeline, specifically the distinction between the OSPF database and the routing table. A common trap is to assume that if neighbors are up and routes appear in the database, they must be installed, but a distribute-list breaks that assumption. Memory tip: think of the distribute-list as a bouncer at the door of the routing table—OSPF learns the routes, but the bouncer decides who gets in.
NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of advanced networking and sd-wan. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 deployed with two ISPs and SD-WAN. The organization uses OSPF to exchange routes with a remote branch. The administrator notices that the FortiGate is not installing OSPF-learned routes into the routing table. The OSPF configuration is verified to be correct, and neighbors are established. Which configuration could be causing the issue?
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
A distribute-list configured under OSPF is filtering the routes from being installed.
Option C is correct because a distribute-list applied under OSPF can filter routes from being installed into the routing table even when OSPF neighbors are fully established and the OSPF database contains the routes. This is a common cause of routes being learned but not installed, as the filter operates after the SPF calculation and before route insertion.
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 SD-WAN health-check is configured with 'update-static-route' and is overriding OSPF routes.
Why it's wrong here
Health-check updates static routes, not OSPF routes.
- ✗
The administrative distance of OSPF is set to 200, which is higher than the default 110.
- ✓
A distribute-list configured under OSPF is filtering the routes from being installed.
Why this is correct
A distribute-list in OSPF can filter which routes are installed into the routing table, even if neighbors are up.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The OSPF interface is configured as 'passive', which prevents route exchange.
Why it's wrong here
A passive interface does not send or receive OSPF packets; neighbors would not form, but the question states neighbors are established.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume OSPF neighbors being up and routes appearing in the OSPF database guarantee route installation, but a distribute-list can silently block installation without affecting neighbor adjacency or the LSDB.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In FortiGate, a distribute-list under OSPF uses an access-list or prefix-list to filter routes after the SPF calculation, and the filtered routes remain in the OSPF database but are not placed into the routing table. This is distinct from route redistribution filtering, which controls routes entering OSPF from other sources. In real-world scenarios, administrators often misconfigure distribute-lists when trying to control route advertisement to neighbors, inadvertently blocking local route installation.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 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
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A distribute-list configured under OSPF is filtering the routes from being installed. — Option C is correct because a distribute-list applied under OSPF can filter routes from being installed into the routing table even when OSPF neighbors are fully established and the OSPF database contains the routes. This is a common cause of routes being learned but not installed, as the filter operates after the SPF calculation and before route insertion.
What should I do if I get this NSE7 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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