NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
You run the following command on a FortiGate: `diagnose sys session filter dport 443` Output: `proto=6 proto_state=01 duration=3600 expire=3599` What does this output indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the `proto_state` value (0x01) with a common TCP state like ESTABLISHED (0x0A) or TIME_WAIT, or misinterpret `expire` as bytes remaining instead of seconds, leading them to select Option A or C.
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 for TCP port 443, is in state SYN_SENT, and has been active for 3600 seconds.
The output shows `proto=6`, which is the protocol number for TCP, and `dport 443` filters for destination port 443. The `proto_state=01` indicates the TCP state is SYN_SENT (state 1 in the FortiGate session table). The `duration=3600` means the session has been active for 3600 seconds, and `expire=3599` shows the remaining time in seconds before the session times out. Thus, Option B correctly interprets these fields.
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 for UDP port 443, is in state ESTABLISHED, and has 3599 bytes remaining.
Why it's wrong here
proto=6 indicates TCP, not UDP. expire shows time in seconds, not bytes.
- ✓
The session is for TCP port 443, is in state SYN_SENT, and has been active for 3600 seconds.
Why this is correct
proto=6 is TCP, proto_state=01 is SYN_SENT, duration is 3600 seconds, expire is 3599 seconds remaining.
- ✗
The session is for TCP port 443, is in state TIME_WAIT, and will expire in 3600 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
proto_state=01 is not TIME_WAIT.
- ✗
The session is for TCP port 443, is in state FIN_WAIT, and will expire in 3599 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
proto_state=01 indicates TCP SYN_SENT state, not FIN_WAIT.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.