- A
Check the session table to see if the NAT translation is occurring.
The session table shows the original and translated IPs, confirming NAT is working.
- B
Check the application dependency.
Why wrong: Application dependency is not relevant to basic NAT functionality.
- C
Check the security policy for the post-NAT zone.
Why wrong: Security policy is important after NAT is verified, but it does not confirm NAT operation.
- D
Check the routing table for the destination.
Why wrong: Routing is needed for traffic flow but does not directly indicate NAT translation.
Question 339 of 516
How to Verify DNAT Translation Using the Session Table
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of troubleshoot. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
During a troubleshooting session, a user reports that they cannot access an internal web server through the firewall's public IP. The firewall is configured with destination NAT. The engineer checks the NAT policy and sees the rule is active. What should be the next step to verify the NAT is functioning correctly?
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
✓
Check the session table to see if the NAT translation is occurring.
Option A is correct because checking the session table (e.g., using 'show session all' or 'show session id <id>') directly confirms whether the destination NAT (DNAT) translation is being applied to the traffic. If the session shows the original destination IP being translated to the internal server's IP, the NAT rule is functioning; if not, the issue lies elsewhere (e.g., policy order, matching conditions). This is the most immediate and definitive verification step in a Palo Alto Networks firewall.
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.
- ✓
Check the session table to see if the NAT translation is occurring.
- ✗
Check the application dependency.
Why it's wrong here
Application dependency is not relevant to basic NAT functionality.
- ✗
Check the security policy for the post-NAT zone.
Why it's wrong here
Security policy is important after NAT is verified, but it does not confirm NAT operation.
- ✗
Check the routing table for the destination.
Why it's wrong here
Routing is needed for traffic flow but does not directly indicate NAT translation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often jump to checking security policies or routing first, forgetting that the session table provides the most direct evidence of whether the NAT translation is actually being applied to the traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Palo Alto firewalls perform NAT before security policy enforcement, and the session table captures both the pre-NAT and post-NAT IP addresses and ports. A common subtle behavior is that if the NAT rule matches but the translated packet cannot be routed (e.g., no route to the internal server), the session will show the translation but the traffic will still fail; however, the session table is still the correct first place to confirm the translation itself. In a real-world scenario, an engineer might see the NAT rule is active but the session table shows no hits, indicating the traffic is not matching the rule due to incorrect source/destination zones or interface bindings.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Visual reference
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Troubleshoot — This question tests Troubleshoot — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Check the session table to see if the NAT translation is occurring. — Option A is correct because checking the session table (e.g., using 'show session all' or 'show session id <id>') directly confirms whether the destination NAT (DNAT) translation is being applied to the traffic. If the session shows the original destination IP being translated to the internal server's IP, the NAT rule is functioning; if not, the issue lies elsewhere (e.g., policy order, matching conditions). This is the most immediate and definitive verification step in a Palo Alto Networks firewall.
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.
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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