easyMultiple Choice
PCNSA Practice Question: Two Palo Alto Networks firewalls are deployed in…
Two Palo Alto Networks firewalls are deployed in an active/passive high availability pair. The passive firewall does not synchronize configuration changes. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
Configuration synchronization is not enabled.
Configuration synchronization must be enabled for the passive firewall to receive configuration changes from the active unit. Session synchronization is separate and does not affect config sync. Option A is incorrect because link monitoring controls failover based on interface status, not configuration synchronization; disabling it would not prevent config sync. Option B is incorrect because if the passive firewall were not configured as a peer, the HA pair would not form, but the scenario indicates the pair is deployed, so peer configuration exists. Option C is incorrect because the firewalls are already deployed as an active/passive pair, which requires them to be the same model; different models would prevent the pair from forming altogether.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Link monitoring is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Configuration synchronisation in an active/passive pair runs over the HA control link independently of link monitoring, so disabling link monitoring does not stop config sync. It is tempting because link monitoring affects failover behaviour, and would be the cause if the passive firewall failed to detect a monitored interface failure.
- ✗
The passive firewall is not configured as a peer.
Why it's wrong here
Peer configuration is not a prerequisite for HA synchronisation; the passive device synchronises once HA links and the active peer are correctly established. It tempts because peer relationships matter in HA topologies, but the actual cause here is a broken HA control or data link.
- ✗
The firewalls are different models.
Why it's wrong here
Although different models can be used in some HA configurations, the PAN-OS version must match. However, the question states that the passive firewall does not synchronize configuration changes, and the most likely cause is that configuration synchronization is not enabled, not a model mismatch.
- ✓
Configuration synchronization is not enabled.
Why this is correct
In an active/passive pair, the passive device only receives configuration from the active peer when configuration synchronisation is enabled. With it disabled, changes never propagate, which is the most likely cause of the stem's symptom.
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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.