Cybersecurity-Apprentice Network Fundamentals Practice Question
A network engineer configures Equal-Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) routing on a Palo Alto Networks virtual router with two paths to the same destination. By default, how does PAN-OS select which path to use for a given session?
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
✓
Based on a hash of session parameters (IP addresses, ports, and protocol)
By default, PAN-OS uses a hash algorithm based on session characteristics (such as source IP, destination IP, source port, destination port, and protocol) to distribute ECMP traffic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Round-robin packet by packet
Why it's wrong here
Packet-by-packet round-robin causes out-of-order packet delivery, which severely impacts TCP performance; PAN-OS hashes per session.
- ✓
Based on a hash of session parameters (IP addresses, ports, and protocol)
Why this is correct
ECMP path selection in PAN-OS hashes session 5-tuple parameters to ensure packets belonging to the same session always traverse the same path while balancing sessions across links.
- ✗
Random selection for every individual packet
Why it's wrong here
Random per-packet selection would break stateful session inspection and TCP ordering.
- ✗
Based on the lowest interface latency measured by ICMP probes
Why it's wrong here
Path monitoring can affect route status, but default ECMP selection relies on hashing, not real-time latency probing.
About these practice questions
One of 177 original Cybersecurity-Apprentice practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This Cybersecurity-Apprentice practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks 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 Cybersecurity-Apprentice exam.