SonicWall Interview Questions for Beginners

If you're looking for Dell SonicWall Interview Questions & Answers for Experienced or Freshers, you are in right place. There are a lot of opportunities from many reputed companies in the world. According to research, Dell SonicWall has a market share of about 4.8%. So, You still have the opportunity to move ahead in your career in Dell SonicWall Administration.

Mindmajix offers Advanced Dell SonicWall Interview Questions 2024 that helps you in cracking your interview & acquire a dream career as Dell SonicWall Administrator.

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Below mentioned are the Top Frequently asked Dell SonicWall Interview Questions and Answers that will help you to prepare for the SonicWall interview. Let's have a look at them.

Frequently Asked Dell SonicWall Interview Questions

1. What is a Dell SonicWALL?
2. What is a SonicWALL VPN?
3. Can SonicWALL be managed centrally?
4. How can the Sonicwall firewall be configured step by step?
5. How can we configure NAT Policies?
6. What do you mean by a transparent firewall?
7. Define stateful inspection?
8. What is Authorization?
9. What is Site to Site and remote access VPN?
10. What is GRE and why is it required?

1. What is a Dell SonicWALL?

Dell Sonic Wall is a firewall solution that not only detects security breaches but prevents them with Sonic Wall's next-generation firewalls which have been recently awarded for its network security solutions.

Dell Sonic Wall blocks ransomware, encrypted threats, and phishing attacks, not only on wired but also on wireless and mobile networks. 

2. Why do we need a firewall?

Internet connection makes us exposed to hackers who access our financial and personal information. The firewall works as a barrier, between our computer network and the internet.

When we are connected to the Internet and are constantly sending and receiving information and can be easily hacked. SonicWALL is our first line of defense against security threats and control data over the Internet.

3. What is a SonicWALL VPN?

SonicWALL VPN specifies whether the VPN connection is being used to provide remote access or to connect two SonicWALL devices (Office Gateway). It also specifies SonicWALL's IP address or domain name & provides a connection name and to click Next.

4. What is SonicWALL TZ 100 and its function?

The SonicWALL TZ 100 is an efficient business workhorse. This is a router, which boasts widespread encryption capabilities, VPN, and security compatibility which provides optional Unified Threat Management (UTM) subscription services. It is fit for remote and branch offices that must be securely connected to the main headquarters' offices.

The network security appliance is also an outstanding firewall option for small business organizations that require network security, remote connectivity functionality, and low-cost deployment.

5. How SonicWALL helps network administrators?

SonicWALL is known for its Standout features. Network administrators with a single installation of SonicWALL obtain information on both site-to-site hardware and cross-platform software-based VPN functionality, firewalled cases, DHCP services, comprehensive routing capabilities.

VOIP support, security supports at zonal and branch offices, logging and reporting functionality, perimeter protection, and subscription services, load balancing capability, hardware failover capacity, an integrated network switch with optional wireless connectivity.

6. What are the compatibility features of SonicWALL?

SonicWALL TZ 100 is known for its compatibility. Several VPN encryption and validation technologies are supported, including DES, 3DES, AES, MD5, and SHA-1. Key exchange technologies that are supported include IKE, manual key, X.509 certificates, and L2TP over IPSec.

Global VPN client platforms that are supported include Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows 7, while the SSL VPN platforms that are supported include Mac OS X and multiple Linux distributions. RIP and static routes are that are supported on the TZ 100 platform are XAUTH/RADIUS, Active Directory, SSO, LDAP, and Novell database validation.

[Related Article: Learn Linux]

7. Can SonicWALL be managed centrally?

TZ 100 series devices are equipped with SonicWALL's Global Management System (GMS). This unique feature facilitates centralized management of numerous SonicWALL devices, thereby lowering deployment and maintenance costs for larger organizations due to its GMS.

Capability and remotely manages configurations, incorporate policies and reporting including supervision of real-time performance.

8. What are the complex issues of SonicWALL?

SonicWALL router configuration and deployment are very complex and need a highly trained expert for its installation. Its technology provides incredible and complex functionality for its firewall capabilities.

For organizations that need assistance, Remote Startup and Configuration Service for the TZ Series is available from a wide range of vendors.

9. What is SonicWALL Mobile Connect?

SonicWall Mobile Connect is a free app, which needs a concurrent user license on one of the SonicWALL router solutions to function properly. SonicWall secures Mobile Access in 100 Series / SRA appliances running 7.5 or higher.

10. What is Netextender Dell?

NetExtender empowers Dell SonicWALL with Secured Remote Access (SRA) 4600 and 1600, adding facilities such as seamless and secure access to any resource on the corporate network, including servers or custom applications. It is not a fat client.

NetExtender is an SSL VPN client for securing Windows, Mac, or Linux users which can be downloaded easily and allow us to run any application securely on the company's network. It uses the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP).

11. How can the Sonicwall firewall be configured step by step?

We need to create an access rule:

1. Firstly we need to log on to the Sonicwall firewall device.
2. Then we should click the Firewall button.
3. Then we should click the Matrix or Dropdown boxes View Style radio button.
4. Followed by clicking the appropriate Zone (such as WAN to LAN).
5. Lastly, we need to click the Add button which appears at the bottom of the menu.

12. How can we access the SonicWALL management interface?

We need to run the Setup Tool to discover Sonicwall’s IP address. Then we should try to ping the Sonic Wall's LAN interface IP and the upstream device's IP. We can use Sonic OS Command Line Interface (CLI) guide better known as the console port and use appropriate commands to reset the settings.

13. How to Create a NAT Policy?

The Network Address Translation (NAT) engine in SonicWALL allows users to define granular NAT policies for their incoming and outgoing traffic. By default, the SonicWALL security device has a preconfigured NAT policy to allow all computers connected to the LAN to perform many to one NAT.

It allows using the IP address of the WAN interface, and a policy not to perform NAT when traffic across other interfaces.

14. Can we configure various NAT Policies concurrently?

A NAT policy provides us the flexibility to control Network Address Translation based on combinations of Source IP address, Destination IP address, and Destination Services. Policy-based NAT allows us to activate different types of NAT at the same time. Following NAT configurations are available in SonicWALL.

1. Many to One NAT Policy
2. Many to Many NAT Policy
3. One to One NAT Policy for Outbound Traffic
4. One to One NAT Policy for Inbound Traffic (Reflexive)
5. One to Many NAT Load Balancing
6. Inbound Port Address Translation via One to One NAT Policy
7. Inbound Port Address Translation via WAN IP Address.

15. How can we configure NAT Policies?

To configure a Many-to-One NAT policy that allows all computers on the X1 interface to initiate traffic using the SonicWALL security appliance’s WAN IP address, we need to perform the following steps:

• Navigate to Network > NAT Policies page and click on Add. Then Add NAT Policy dialog box is displayed.
• For Original Source, select the option Any.
• For Translated Source, we need to select WAN Interface IP.
• For Original Destination, we need to select Any.
• For the Translated Destinations, we need to select Original.
• For Original Service, we need to select Any.
• For Translated Service, we need to select Original.
• For Inbound Interface, we need to select X1.
• For Outbound Interface, we need to select X1.
• In the Comment, we need to enter a short description.
• Followed by clicking on the Enable NAT Policy checkbox.
• We need to Leave Create a reflexive policy unchecked.
• Finally Click Add.

16. What is the difference between gateway and firewall within a network?

Network gateways connect two networks together whereas a firewall acts as a shield to the computer against unauthorized incoming or outgoing access. Firewalls can be installed within a network as hardware devices or software programs.

17. What is the difference between IPS and firewall?

The main function of a firewall is to manage traffic flow from an outside network. A firewall cannot detect an attack in which the data is deviating from its regular pattern, whereas IPS can easily detect and reset that connection with its inbuilt anomaly detection.

18. What do you mean by a transparent firewall?

A transparent firewall is thought to be a Layer 2 in any network. Installing a new firewall into a network can be a complicated process due to various issues for e.g. IP address reconfiguration, network topology changes, current firewall, etc.

Since the firewall is not a routed hop, we can easily introduce a transparent firewall into an existing network.

19. What do you mean by packet filtering?

Packet filtering is the process of allowing or block IP packets based on their source and destination addresses, ports, or protocols. The packet filter examines the header of each data packet based on a specific set of rules. On that basis, it decides to block it or allow crossing.

Packet filtering is also part to protect a local network from unwanted access.

20. Define stateful inspection?

Stateful inspection is also known as dynamic packet filtering which is a firewall technology that supervises the state of active connections and analyses this information to determine which network packets are allowed through the firewall.

Stateful inspection analyses packets within the application layer.

21. What is Public Key Encryption?

Public key encryption is a method that is used for encryption and decryption. In this system, a public key is used to encrypt messages and only the corresponding private key can decrypt them. For sending an encrypted message, the sender has to know the recipient’s public key too.

22. What is Authorization?

Authorization is a method of security used to determine user or client privileges and access levels which are related to network resources, including firewalls, routers, switches, and other security application features.

Authorization is normally followed after the authentication process and during authorization. It’s a system that checks an authenticated user’s access rules and either grant or blocks the resource access.

23. What is stateful failover?

Each time a session is generated for a flow of traffic on the primary node, it is synced to the secondary node too. When the primary node fails, sessions continue to pass traffic through the second node without having to re-establish the link.

24. What is VPN and describe IPsec VPN?

Virtual Private Network (VPN) generates a secure network connection over any public network such as the internet. IPsec VPN means VPN over IP Security allows two or more users to communicate securely by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet within a communication session.

25. What is Site to Site and remote access VPN?

A site-to-site VPN permits offices in multiple locations to establish secure connections with each other over a public network such as the Internet. Site-to-site VPN is unlike other remote-access VPN as it removes the need for each computer to run VPN client software as if it is on a remote access VPN.

26. How do you check the status of the tunnel’s phases 1 & 2?

The following commands are used to check the status of tunnel phases:
Phase 1: show crypto isakmp and State: MM_ACTIVE
Phase 2: show crypto IPsec SA
If we have a lot of tunnels and the output is very confusing, then we can use a ‘show crypto IPsec SA peer 12.12.12.12’ command.

27. What is SSL VPN? How is it different from IPsec VPN?

SSL VPN facilitates remote access connectivity from any internet-enabled location without any special client from the remote site. We need a web browser and its native SSL encryption.

IPsec is a dedicated point-to-point fixed VPN connection where SSL VPNs provide connectivity without any configuration or special software at the remote location.

28. What is GRE and why is it required?

Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) is a protocol that encapsulates packets in order to route other protocols over IP networks.

GRE places a wrapper around a packet during the transmission of the data. After receiving, GRE removes the wrapper and enables the original packet for processing by the receiving stack.

Following are the Advantages of GRE tunnels:

1. The tunnels connect discontinuous sub-networks.
2. It allows VPNs across wide area networks (WANs).
3. It encases multiple protocols over a single protocol backbone.
4. The tunnels provide workarounds for networks with limited hops.

29. At Which levels Firewalls works? Define firewall generations and their roles?

Firewalls generally work at layers 3, 4 & 7. First-generation firewalls provided packet filtering and operate at layer 3 (Network Layer). Second-generation firewalls can operate up to the Transport layer (layer 4) and record all connectivity passing through it and decides whether a packet is the start of a new connection or a part of an existing connection, or without any part of the connection.

Second-generation firewalls are fundamentally used for Stateful Inspection.

Third-generation firewalls can operate at layer 7. The key benefit of this application-layer filtering is that it can “understand” certain applications and protocols (such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Domain Name System (DNS), or Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)) on its own

30. What is a DoS attack? How can it be prevented?

DoS (Denial of Service) attack can be produced by sending a flood of data or requests to a target system resulting in either consumption or crash of the target system’s resources. The attacker often uses IP spoofing to conceal his identity when launching a DoS attack.