This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of troubleshoot. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
---
> show session id 12345
Session ID: 12345
Source IP: 10.1.1.100
Destination IP: 192.168.2.50
Source Port: 34567
Destination Port: 80
Protocol: TCP
State: FIN_WAIT
Application: ssl
NAT Source: 10.1.1.100
NAT Destination: 192.168.2.50
---
Refer to the exhibit. The session is in FIN_WAIT state. What does this indicate about the TCP connection?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The firewall has closed the connection and is waiting for the client or server to finish
FIN_WAIT state indicates that the firewall has sent a FIN and is waiting for the other side to acknowledge or send its own FIN. This is part of normal TCP teardown.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The connection is actively transferring data
Why it's wrong here
Data transfer occurs in ESTABLISHED state.
✓
The firewall has closed the connection and is waiting for the client or server to finish
Why this is correct
FIN_WAIT means the firewall initiated the close and is waiting for final packets.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The connection has timed out and is being removed
Why it's wrong here
Timeout would show TIME_WAIT or CLOSE states.
✗
The firewall is waiting for a SYN-ACK from the destination
Why it's wrong here
That would be SYN_SENT state.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Timeout would show TIME_WAIT or CLOSE states.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCNSE NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Troubleshoot — This question tests Troubleshoot — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The firewall has closed the connection and is waiting for the client or server to finish — FIN_WAIT state indicates that the firewall has sent a FIN and is waiting for the other side to acknowledge or send its own FIN. This is part of normal TCP teardown.
What should I do if I get this PCNSE question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related PCNSE NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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