PCNSE Core Concepts and Architecture Practice Question
A firewall is using App-ID to identify applications running on non-standard ports. The administrator has configured a custom application with a default port of 8080, but traffic on port 8080 is still not being identified correctly. The application uses multiple connections on different ports. 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
✓
The application is defined with the wrong protocol (TCP vs UDP).
Custom applications require both a default port and a protocol type (TCP/UDP). If the protocol is not specified correctly (e.g., TCP instead of UDP or vice versa), App-ID may fail to identify the traffic even if the port matches. Option A (timeout setting) affects session termination but not identification. Option C (Content-ID disabled) affects file analysis and threat detection, not basic App-ID identification. Option D (URL categorization required) is only relevant for HTTP-based applications and not for general application identification. Therefore, the most likely cause is that the application is defined with the wrong protocol.
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's timeout value is too short.
Why it's wrong here
Timeout values affect session keepalive, not identification.
- ✓
The application is defined with the wrong protocol (TCP vs UDP).
Why this is correct
If the custom application uses TCP but is defined as UDP, App-ID will not match.
- ✗
Content-ID is disabled on the security policy.
Why it's wrong here
Content-ID handles data filtering, not application identification.
- ✗
The application requires URL categorization to be enabled.
Why it's wrong here
URL categorization is separate from App-ID.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.