PCNSE Practice Question: Managing Troubleshooting and High Availability
Which TWO troubleshooting steps are most effective when an HA pair is not synchronizing sessions between peers? (Assume HA1 and HA2 are up.)
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
✓
Ensure session synchronization is enabled on both firewalls under Device > High Availability > Setup
The two most effective troubleshooting steps are A and D. A is correct because if session synchronization is disabled, sessions will not sync. Under Device > High Availability > Setup, you must verify that session synchronization is enabled on both firewalls. D is correct because mismatched parameters such as encryption, timeout, or other session sync settings can prevent synchronization. B is wrong because HA1 link utilization does not directly affect session synchronization; HA1 is for control traffic, and session data is sent over HA2 or HA3. C is wrong: increasing the packet buffer protection threshold is for buffer exhaustion issues, not session synchronization. E is wrong: restarting the HA process is a disruptive step and should only be attempted after verifying other settings; it is not a primary troubleshooting step.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Ensure session synchronization is enabled on both firewalls under Device > High Availability > Setup
Why this is correct
If disabled, no sync occurs.
- ✗
Check HA1 link utilization
Why it's wrong here
HA1 is not used for session sync.
- ✗
Increase the packet buffer protection threshold
Why it's wrong here
Packet buffer does not affect sync.
- ✓
Review the session synchronization configuration for mismatched parameters (e.g., encryption, timeout)
Why this is correct
Mismatched parameters can prevent sync.
- ✗
Restart the HA process on both firewalls
Why it's wrong here
Restart is disruptive and not diagnostic.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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