PCNSA Device Management and Services Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are valid steps when configuring a new virtual wire (vwire) on a Palo Alto Networks firewall?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the need for an IP address on a virtual wire (which is Layer 2) with the requirement for IP addresses on Layer 3 interfaces, leading them to incorrectly select option B as a valid step.
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
✓
Add two or more interfaces as members of the virtual wire
Option E is correct because creating the virtual wire object under Network > Virtual Wires is the foundational step that defines the vwire and lets you bind its interfaces. Option A is correct because a virtual wire must have at least two interfaces assigned as members (typically a pair) so that traffic can be bridged transparently between them. Option C is correct because, as with any PAN-OS configuration change, the candidate configuration must be committed for the virtual wire to take effect. Option B is not valid because a virtual wire operates at Layer 2 and is transparent, so it does not have or require an IP address. Option D is not a required configuration step for the vwire itself; security policy is a separate function and is not part of the virtual wire setup process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Add two or more interfaces as members of the virtual wire
Why this is correct
A virtual wire requires at least two interfaces bound as members, since it bridges traffic between them. Adding two or more interfaces as vwire members is therefore a valid configuration step, satisfying the requirement that the vwire have a defined ingress and egress pair.
- ✗
Assign an IP address to the virtual wire
Why it's wrong here
A virtual wire operates as a Layer 2 bump-in-the-wire, binding two interfaces into a transparent pair; assigning an IP address would make it a Layer 3 interface and break that transparency. It is tempting because interfaces commonly hold addresses, but vwire pairs deliberately forward traffic without participating in routing.
- ✓
Commit the configuration
Why this is correct
Committing the configuration is a valid step because Palo Alto firewalls run a candidate configuration; vwire changes only take effect once committed. Without the commit, the virtual wire object and interface assignments remain inactive, so this step is required to activate the vwire.
- ✗
Create a security policy allowing traffic on the virtual wire
Why it's wrong here
Security policies are applied to zones, not directly to vwires; vwire interfaces are assigned to zones where policies apply.
- ✓
Create a virtual wire object under Network > Virtual Wires
Why this is correct
Creating the virtual wire object under Network > Virtual Wires is a valid step because the vwire must exist before interfaces can be assigned as members. This object defines the logical bridge that the member interfaces will use to pass traffic.
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JA
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.