Quick Answer
The correct commands are show vpn ike-sa and show vpn ipsec-sa, used together to check IPsec tunnel status on a Palo Alto Networks firewall. The show vpn ike-sa command verifies the IKE Phase 1 security associations, which establish the encrypted control channel, while show vpn ipsec-sa displays the IKE Phase 2 security associations that represent the actual data-plane tunnel. On the PCNSE exam, this question tests your understanding of the two-phase IPsec lifecycle and the specific CLI commands for each phase. A common trap is confusing the two: candidates often assume a single command covers the entire tunnel, but you must check both phases to confirm full connectivity. For a memory tip, think “Phase 1 is the handshake, Phase 2 is the data path” — so IKE-SA checks the handshake, IPsec-SA checks the data path.
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of troubleshoot. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Which TWO commands can be used to check the status of an IPSec tunnel on a Palo Alto Networks firewall?
show system info
Why wrong: This shows system information, not VPN.
show vpn ike-sa
This shows the IKE security associations.
show routing route
Why wrong: This shows routing table, not VPN status.
show vpn ipsec-sa
This command lists the IPSec security associations.
show interface all
Why wrong: This shows interface status, not VPN tunnel status.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
show vpn ike-sa
Option B is correct because 'show vpn ike-sa' displays the status of IKE Phase 1 security associations, which are essential for establishing the control channel of an IPSec tunnel. Option D is correct because 'show vpn ipsec-sa' shows the status of IKE Phase 2 security associations, which represent the actual data-plane IPSec tunnel. Both commands are used together to verify the full lifecycle of an IPSec VPN tunnel on Palo Alto Networks firewalls.
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.
show system info
Why it's wrong here
This shows system information, not VPN.
show vpn ike-sa
Why this is correct
This shows the IKE security associations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
show routing route
Why it's wrong here
This shows routing table, not VPN status.
show vpn ipsec-sa
Why this is correct
This command lists the IPSec security associations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
show interface all
Why it's wrong here
This shows interface status, not VPN tunnel status.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse general network commands (like routing or interface status) with VPN-specific commands, assuming that a working route or interface implies a functional IPSec tunnel, when in fact the tunnel may be down due to IKE or IPSec SA failures.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This shows system information, not VPN.
Detailed technical explanation
IKE Phase 1 (main or aggressive mode) establishes a secure channel using Diffie-Hellman key exchange and authenticates peers, resulting in an IKE SA. Phase 2 then negotiates IPSec SAs for encrypting data traffic, often using Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). On Palo Alto firewalls, 'show vpn ike-sa' reveals the IKE gateway, lifetime, and encryption algorithms, while 'show vpn ipsec-sa' shows the tunnel interface, SPI values, and byte counters, which are critical for troubleshooting tunnel flapping or encryption mismatches.
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
Troubleshoot — This question tests Troubleshoot — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: show vpn ike-sa — Option B is correct because 'show vpn ike-sa' displays the status of IKE Phase 1 security associations, which are essential for establishing the control channel of an IPSec tunnel. Option D is correct because 'show vpn ipsec-sa' shows the status of IKE Phase 2 security associations, which represent the actual data-plane IPSec tunnel. Both commands are used together to verify the full lifecycle of an IPSec VPN tunnel on Palo Alto Networks firewalls.
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 11, 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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