This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of manage, monitor and operate. 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.
An administrator needs to generate a tech support file for TAC. Which CLI command accomplishes this?
debug generate dump
Why wrong: This creates a debug dump (gdb) but not a proper tech support file.
generate tech-support
This command generates a tech support file (tgz) that can be exported.
show tech-support
Why wrong: This displays tech support info in the CLI but does not save a file.
request tech-support
Why wrong: This is not a valid command on Palo Alto firewalls.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
generate tech-support
The correct command to generate a tech support file on Palo Alto Networks firewalls is 'generate tech-support'. This command collects all relevant logs, configurations, and diagnostic data into a single archive file for TAC analysis. The 'generate' keyword is specific to Palo Alto's CLI syntax for creating output files, unlike Cisco's 'show' or 'request' commands.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
debug generate dump
Why it's wrong here
This creates a debug dump (gdb) but not a proper tech support file.
generate tech-support
Why this is correct
This command generates a tech support file (tgz) that can be exported.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
show tech-support
Why it's wrong here
This displays tech support info in the CLI but does not save a file.
request tech-support
Why it's wrong here
This is not a valid command on Palo Alto firewalls.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates familiar with Cisco IOS often default to 'show tech-support' or 'request tech-support', but Palo Alto uses 'generate' as the action verb for creating output files, not 'show' or 'request'.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This is not a valid command on Palo Alto firewalls.
Detailed technical explanation
The 'generate tech-support' command creates a .tgz archive stored in the /opt/panlogs/tmp/ directory, containing system logs, configuration files, process dumps, and network statistics. This file can be retrieved via SCP or the web interface for TAC analysis. In real-world scenarios, generating a tech support file before and after a change helps isolate configuration-induced issues without requiring live debugging.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Manage, Monitor and Operate — This question tests Manage, Monitor and Operate — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: generate tech-support — The correct command to generate a tech support file on Palo Alto Networks firewalls is 'generate tech-support'. This command collects all relevant logs, configurations, and diagnostic data into a single archive file for TAC analysis. The 'generate' keyword is specific to Palo Alto's CLI syntax for creating output files, unlike Cisco's 'show' or 'request' commands.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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