The answer is that proto_state=02 indicates the session is in the TCP established state, meaning the connection has completed the three-way handshake and is actively passing data. This is correct because in Fortinet’s diagnose sys session list output, proto=6 maps to TCP, and proto_state=02 specifically represents the ESTABLISHED state within the kernel session table. On the Fortinet NSE 7 Advanced Security NSE7 exam, this concept tests your understanding of stateful firewall behavior—specifically that policy changes only affect new sessions, not existing ones. A common trap is assuming a policy change will immediately kill active traffic; in reality, the established session persists until it times out or is manually cleared. To remember this, think of proto_state=02 as “02 = two-way conversation active,” contrasting with proto_state=01 for SYN-SENT or 03 for FIN-WAIT.
NSE7 Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs Practice Question
This NSE7 practice question tests your understanding of enterprise firewall and vdoms. 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.
An administrator runs 'diagnose sys session list' and sees sessions with 'proto=6 proto_state=02' and a long duration. The administrator is troubleshooting why sessions are not being terminated after a policy change that should block the traffic. What does 'proto_state=02' indicate?
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 in established state (TCP connection active)
In Fortinet's 'diagnose sys session list' output, 'proto=6' indicates TCP, and 'proto_state=02' maps to the TCP established state (ESTABLISHED). This means the session has completed the three-way handshake and is actively passing data. A long duration in this state explains why the session persists even after a policy change that should block new traffic—the existing session remains in the kernel session table until it times out or is explicitly cleared, because FortiGate's stateful inspection does not retroactively terminate established sessions upon policy modification.
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 in TIME_WAIT state
Why it's wrong here
TIME_WAIT is typically proto_state=05.
✗
The session is in SYN_SENT state, waiting for a SYN-ACK
Why it's wrong here
SYN_SENT is proto_state=01.
✓
The session is in established state (TCP connection active)
Why this is correct
proto_state=02 means ESTABLISHED. Existing sessions are not affected by policy changes; they continue until timeout or explicit termination.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The session is in FIN_WAIT state, closing the connection
Why it's wrong here
FIN_WAIT states have higher numbers like 03 or 04.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the numeric 'proto_state' values with generic TCP states from RFC 793, but Fortinet uses its own mapping where '02' specifically means ESTABLISHED, not TIME_WAIT or FIN_WAIT, leading to incorrect assumptions about session termination behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
FortiGate's session table uses a numeric state mapping for TCP: 01=SYN_SENT, 02=ESTABLISHED, 03=FIN_WAIT, 04=CLOSE_WAIT, 05=TIME_WAIT, etc. The 'diagnose sys session list' command shows these states in the 'proto_state' field. A common real-world scenario is that after a policy change to block traffic, the administrator must either wait for the session's idle timeout (default 3600 seconds for TCP) or manually clear sessions using 'diagnose sys session clear' to enforce the new policy immediately.
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — This question tests Enterprise Firewall and VDOMs — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The session is in established state (TCP connection active) — In Fortinet's 'diagnose sys session list' output, 'proto=6' indicates TCP, and 'proto_state=02' maps to the TCP established state (ESTABLISHED). This means the session has completed the three-way handshake and is actively passing data. A long duration in this state explains why the session persists even after a policy change that should block new traffic—the existing session remains in the kernel session table until it times out or is explicitly cleared, because FortiGate's stateful inspection does not retroactively terminate established sessions upon policy modification.
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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Question Discussion
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