PCNSA Device Management and Services Practice Question
An administrator needs to back up the firewall configuration before making changes. Which method creates a complete backup that can be restored to the same or a different firewall?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse a local snapshot (Option A) or a candidate config save (Option B) with a portable, exportable backup, or mistakenly think a CLI text output (Option C) is sufficient for restoration, when only the exported XML file supports full cross-firewall restore.
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
✓
Use the 'Device > Setup > Operations > Export named configuration snapshot' and select 'running-config.xml'
Exporting the running-config.xml via 'Device > Setup > Operations > Export named configuration snapshot' creates a complete XML backup of the entire running configuration. This file can be imported and restored to the same or a different firewall of the same model and PAN-OS version, ensuring full recovery of all settings, including network, policy, and object configurations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use the 'Device > Setup > Operations > Save named configuration snapshot' option
Why it's wrong here
This saves a device state snapshot, not a full configuration backup.
- ✗
Use the 'Save Candidate Config' option in the GUI
Why it's wrong here
This saves only the candidate config, not the running config.
- ✗
Use the CLI command 'show config running' and copy the output
Why it's wrong here
This displays the config but does not create a file for restore.
- ✓
Use the 'Device > Setup > Operations > Export named configuration snapshot' and select 'running-config.xml'
Why this is correct
This exports the full running configuration as an XML file that can be imported later.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.