- A
The application override rules are not synchronized.
Why wrong: Application override rules are part of the configuration and should synchronize.
- B
The security policy rules referencing the custom applications are not present.
Why wrong: Security rules should sync as well.
- C
The custom application objects were created locally on the previous active firewall and not pushed from Panorama.
Correct: Local objects are not shared via Panorama, so they would be missing on the new active firewall.
- D
The custom application signatures are not committed on the new active firewall.
Why wrong: If synchronized via Panorama, the commit should include them unless there is a commit failure, but the issue is more likely a missing object.
Question 426 of 516
Troubleshooting Custom App Objects After HA Failover
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of securing traffic and app-id. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company has a Palo Alto Networks firewall in a high-availability active/passive setup. After a failover event, the new active firewall is not correctly identifying some custom applications. The custom application objects and signatures are synchronized via Panorama. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
The custom application objects were created locally on the previous active firewall and not pushed from Panorama.
Option C is correct because custom application objects created locally on the previous active firewall are not automatically synchronized to the peer in an active/passive HA pair. Even though Panorama is used for centralized management, local objects are not pushed from Panorama unless they were originally created and pushed via Panorama. After a failover, the new active firewall lacks these locally defined objects, causing it to fail to identify the custom applications.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 application override rules are not synchronized.
Why it's wrong here
Application override rules are part of the configuration and should synchronize.
- ✗
The security policy rules referencing the custom applications are not present.
Why it's wrong here
Security rules should sync as well.
- ✓
The custom application objects were created locally on the previous active firewall and not pushed from Panorama.
Why this is correct
Correct: Local objects are not shared via Panorama, so they would be missing on the new active firewall.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The custom application signatures are not committed on the new active firewall.
Why it's wrong here
If synchronized via Panorama, the commit should include them unless there is a commit failure, but the issue is more likely a missing object.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume Panorama synchronization covers all configuration elements, but locally created objects (not pushed from Panorama) are not synced to the HA peer, leading to identification failures after failover.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In an active/passive HA setup, configuration synchronization (config sync) replicates the running configuration from the active to the passive firewall, but only for objects and policies that are part of the shared configuration. Custom application objects created locally on the active firewall (via the CLI or GUI without Panorama) are stored in the local candidate config and are not automatically replicated to the peer unless explicitly exported and imported. Panorama pushes only objects that are defined in its device groups or templates; locally created objects remain orphaned after failover. This scenario often occurs when administrators create custom App-ID signatures directly on the firewall for testing, forgetting to migrate them to Panorama.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PCNSE exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Securing Traffic and App-ID — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Securing Traffic and App-ID — This question tests Securing Traffic and App-ID — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The custom application objects were created locally on the previous active firewall and not pushed from Panorama. — Option C is correct because custom application objects created locally on the previous active firewall are not automatically synchronized to the peer in an active/passive HA pair. Even though Panorama is used for centralized management, local objects are not pushed from Panorama unless they were originally created and pushed via Panorama. After a failover, the new active firewall lacks these locally defined objects, causing it to fail to identify the custom applications.
What should I do if I get this PCNSE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCNSE 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 PCNSE exam.
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