PCNSA Device Management and Services Practice Question
A security administrator is configuring a Palo Alto Networks firewall to send syslog messages to an external syslog server at 203.0.113.10. The syslog server is reachable only through the ethernet1/1 interface, which is in the untrust zone. The administrator has configured the syslog server under Device > Server Profiles > Syslog and attached it to a log forwarding profile. However, syslog messages are not being received by the server. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that security policy rules apply to syslog traffic, when in fact service routes control the source interface for management-plane syslog.
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 service route for syslog is not configured to use ethernet1/1 as the source interface.
Syslog messages are sent from the management plane, and their source interface is determined by service routes. When the syslog server is only reachable via a specific interface, a service route must be configured to use that interface. Without it, the firewall may attempt to send syslog messages from the management interface, which cannot reach the server, resulting in no messages being received.
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 syslog server is not configured to accept messages from the firewall's management IP address.
Why it's wrong here
While the syslog server might filter by source IP, the scenario does not indicate that. The more fundamental issue is that the firewall may not be sending from the correct interface. If the service route is not configured, the firewall might send from an interface that cannot reach the server, so the server would not receive anything regardless of filtering. This option is less likely.
- ✗
The syslog server profile is not assigned to the correct log forwarding profile.
Why it's wrong here
The administrator has already attached the syslog server profile to a log forwarding profile. If it were not assigned, no syslog messages would be generated at all. However, the issue is likely related to the source interface, not the profile assignment. This option is plausible but not the most likely cause given the scenario.
- ✗
A security policy rule is blocking syslog traffic from the firewall to the syslog server.
Why it's wrong here
Syslog messages are generated by the management plane and are not subject to security policy rules. Security policies apply to traffic traversing the firewall, not to management-plane traffic. Therefore, a security rule would not block syslog messages, and this is not the cause of the issue.
- ✓
A service route for syslog is not configured to use ethernet1/1 as the source interface.
Why this is correct
Service routes determine the source interface for outbound management traffic, including syslog. If the syslog server is reachable only via ethernet1/1, a service route must be configured to use that interface. Without it, the firewall may use the management interface, which cannot reach the server, causing syslog messages to be dropped. This is the most likely cause.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This PCNSA question is part of Courseiva's 385-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. 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 September 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This PCNSA 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 PCNSA exam.