- A
Session offload is not enabled on the passive firewall
Why wrong: No such feature.
- B
Packet Buffer Protection threshold was exceeded
Why wrong: Buffer protection affects packets, not session state.
- C
Session synchronization is not configured between the HA peers
Without session sync, active firewall's sessions are unknown to the other.
- D
The routing table is not redistributed after failover
Why wrong: Routing convergence is separate.
Question 66 of 516
PCNSE Practice Question: Managing Troubleshooting and High Availability
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of managing troubleshooting and high availability. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
After a failover event, some user sessions are reset. The HA pair is configured for Active/Active with session distribution using a hash algorithm. What is the most likely reason for session resets?
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
✓
Session synchronization is not configured between the HA peers
In an Active/Active HA pair with session distribution based on a hash algorithm, each firewall handles a subset of traffic flows. Without session synchronization between the peers, the backup firewall has no session table entries for flows hashed to the primary. After a failover, the backup firewall sees these packets as new connections and resets them because it lacks the state information required to continue the existing sessions.
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.
- ✗
Session offload is not enabled on the passive firewall
Why it's wrong here
No such feature.
- ✗
Packet Buffer Protection threshold was exceeded
Why it's wrong here
Buffer protection affects packets, not session state.
- ✓
Session synchronization is not configured between the HA peers
Why this is correct
Without session sync, active firewall's sessions are unknown to the other.
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 routing table is not redistributed after failover
Why it's wrong here
Routing convergence is separate.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse session synchronization with routing redistribution or assume that Active/Active inherently shares session state, when in fact session synchronization must be explicitly configured and is not automatic even in Active/Active mode.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Session synchronization in Palo Alto Networks HA uses a dedicated HA3 link (data link) to replicate session entries between peers. The hash algorithm (e.g., based on source/destination IP, port, protocol) determines which firewall owns a session; without sync, the peer has no record of the session's state machine (TCP sequence numbers, NAT translations, application ID). In a real-world scenario, if session synchronization is disabled, even a brief failover will cause all TCP connections hashed to the failed firewall to be reset, requiring clients to re-establish connections.
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
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Managing Troubleshooting and High Availability — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Managing Troubleshooting and High Availability — This question tests Managing Troubleshooting and High Availability — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Session synchronization is not configured between the HA peers — In an Active/Active HA pair with session distribution based on a hash algorithm, each firewall handles a subset of traffic flows. Without session synchronization between the peers, the backup firewall has no session table entries for flows hashed to the primary. After a failover, the backup firewall sees these packets as new connections and resets them because it lacks the state information required to continue the existing sessions.
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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Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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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