PCNSE Manage, Monitor and Operate Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are valid methods to upgrade the PAN-OS software on a firewall? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume USB or FTP are valid methods because they are common in other network devices, but PAN-OS strictly restricts upgrade image sources to HTTPS downloads or the CLI with a URL, and USB is only for bootstrap or recovery operations.
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
✓
Download from the Palo Alto Networks support site and install via the web interface
The PAN-OS web interface provides a built-in method to upload and install software images downloaded from the Palo Alto Networks support site. This is a standard, supported upgrade path that uses HTTPS to transfer the image to the firewall.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Insert a USB drive with the image into the firewall's USB port
Why it's wrong here
USB is not supported for PAN-OS upgrades.
- ✓
Download from the Palo Alto Networks support site and install via the web interface
Why this is correct
Standard method.
- ✓
Use the 'request system software upgrade' CLI command with a URL
Why this is correct
CLI method.
- ✗
Use FTP to transfer the image to the firewall
Why it's wrong here
FTP is not supported for PAN-OS upgrades.
- ✗
Email the image to the firewall's email-to-PAN-OS feature
Why it's wrong here
No such feature.
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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.