Checkpoint 156-587 Check Point Certified Troubleshooting Expert - R81.20 (CCTE) Exam Practice Test

The kernel component associated with Content Awareness and data collection from contexts (often provided by the Context Management Infrastructure - CMI) is dlpda.  

According to the Check Point R81.20 Quantum Security Gateway Administration Guide, within the listing of kernel modules, dlpda is described as follows:

Exact Extract:

Module "dlpda" (Data Loss Prevention - Download Agent for Content Awareness)

The dlpda module functions as a "Download Agent for Content Awareness." This role involves collecting data necessary for the Content Awareness blade to inspect and understand the content of traffic. The Content Awareness blade works in conjunction with the Context Management Infrastructure (CMI), which provides the initial context about the traffic. The dlpda component then uses these contexts to gather the relevant data for deeper inspection and to determine if the content matches any defined data types or policies. While the guide lists it as a "Module," exam questions in the CCTE context often refer to such components involved in kernel operations as "kernel processes." The function described clearly aligns with collecting data for Content Awareness.  

Options analysis:

A. PDP (Policy Decision Point): This process is primarily associated with Identity Awareness for making access decisions based on user identity, not directly for Content Awareness data collection from CMI contexts.

B. cpemd (Check Point Endpoint Management Daemon): This daemon is related to endpoint security management and does not fit the role of a kernel process for gateway-level Content Awareness data collection.

D. CMI (Context Management Infrastructure): CMI is an infrastructure that provides contexts to various blades, including Content Awareness. It is the source of the contexts, not the kernel process that collects data based on those contexts.

Therefore, dlpda is the kernel component specifically tasked with collecting data for Content Awareness.

The PDP process is the Identity server, which is a component of the Identity Awareness blade on the Security Gateway. The PDP process is responsible for collecting and managing identity information from various sources, such as Active Directory, Identity Agents, Captive Portal, Terminal Servers, and RADIUS. The PDP process also communicates with the PEP process, which is the Policy Enforcement Point, to enforce identity-based policies on the traffic passing throughthe Security Gateway1. The other options, such as Log Sifter, Captive Portal Service, andUserAuth Database, are either not related to Identity Awareness or not processes, but rather files or services. References: 1: sk93046: Identity Awareness - How to Configure

 The fw ctl zdebug command is a powerful tool that can be used to collect debug messages from the kernel, clean the buffer, and automatically allocate a 1MB buffer. However, it cannot be used to debug additional modules, such as SecureXL, CoreXL, or VPN. For those modules, other commands or tools are needed, such as fwaccel dbg, fw ctl affinity, or vpn debug.

SmartEvent is a unified security event management and analysis solution that collects and analyzes data from multiple sources to identify and respond to security threats. SmartEvent consists of three main components: Log Server, Correlation Unit, and SmartEvent Server1. The three main processes that govern these SmartEvent components are:

eventiasv: This process is responsible for indexing the logs received from the Log Server and storing them in the SmartEvent database. It also performs log consolidation and compression to optimize the diskspace usage2.

eventiarp: This process is responsible for running the predefined and custom correlation rules on the indexed logs and generating security events based on the rule criteria. It also sends notifications and triggers automatic responses for the security events3.

eventiacu: This process is responsible for providing the web-based user interface for SmartEvent, which allows the administrators to view, analyze, and manage the security events. It also provides the SmartEvent API for external integration4. References: Check Point Processes and Daemons5, SmartEvent Administration Guide1

1: https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/R81.10/WebAdminGuides/EN/CP_R81.10_SmartEvent_AdminGuide/html_frameset.htm  2: https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/R81.10/WebAdminGuides/EN/CP_R81.10_SmartEvent_AdminGuide/Content/Topics-SmartEvent/SmartEvent-Components.htm#_Toc64167467  3: https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/R81.10/WebAdminGuides/EN/CP_R81.10_SmartEvent_Adm inGuide/Content/Topics-SmartEvent/SmartEvent-Components.htm#_Toc64167468 4: https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/R81.10/WebAdminGuides/EN/CP_R81.10_SmartEvent_AdminGuide/Content/Topics-SmartEvent/SmartEvent-Components.htm#_Toc64167469  5: https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails= &solutionid=sk97638

The STAT column in the output of the cpwd_admin list command shows the status of the monitored process. The possible values are E for established, meaning that the process is running, or T for terminated, meaning that the process is not running. The STAT column is useful for quickly checking if any critical process has crashed or failed to start. If the value is T, the process should be restarted and the reason for the termination should be investigated. The STAT column does not show the Watch Dog name, the number of times the process was started, or the monitoring method of the Watch Dog. 

The Multi-portal Daemon (mpdaemon) is responsible for handling the clientless access connections in Mobile Access VPN. It listens on port 443 and redirects the traffic to the appropriate port of the process that handles the specific connection type, such as cvpnd for SSL Network Extender, MAD for Mobile Access Portal, or HID for HTTPS Inspection.The mpdaemon also performs authentication and authorization for the clientless access connections.References: Check Point Processes and Daemons1, Mobile Access Blade Administration Guide

1: https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails= &solutionid=sk97638 : https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/R81.10/WebAdminGuides/EN/CP_R81.10_Mobile_Access_AdminGuide/html_frameset.htm

The Unified Policy is a feature that allows you to create a single policy layer that combines the functionality of Access Control, Threat Prevention, and HTTPS Inspection12. To debug the Unified Policy, you need to use the command fw ctl debug with the module name UP and the flag all or specific flags for different aspects of the Unified Policy inspection34. The possible flags for the Unified Policy module are:

up_match: Shows the matching process of the Unified Policy rules.

up_inspect: Shows the inspection process of the Unified Policy rules.

up_action: Shows the action process of the Unified Policy rules.

up_log: Shows the logging process of the Unified Policy rules.

up_tls: Shows the TLS inspection process of the Unified Policy rules.

up_clob: Shows the CLOB (Content Limitation and Optimization Blade) inspection process of the Unified Policy rules.

up_rulebase: Shows the rulebase loading process of the Unified Policy rules.

up_connection: Shows the connection tracking process of the Unified Policy rules.

The flag tls is not a valid flag for the Unified Policy module, as it is used for the TLS Inspection module5. Therefore, the correct answer is A. tls. The other options are valid flags for the Unified Policy module, as explained above34. References:

1: CCTE Courseware, Module 8: Advanced Access Control, Slide 7

2: Check Point R81 Security Gateway Architecture and Packet Flow, Chapter 5: Unified Policy, Page 29

3: CCTE Courseware, Module 8: Advanced Access Control, Slide 17

4: Check Point R81 Security Gateway Architecture and Packet Flow, Chapter 5: Unified Policy, Page 32

5: Check Point R81 Security Gateway Architecture and Packet Flow, Chapter 6: TLS Inspection, Page 36

To see the list of processes monitored by the WatchDog process (CPWD), you use thecpwd_admin listcommand.

Option A (cpstat fw -f watchdog): Shows firewall status and statistics for the "fw" context, not necessarily the list of monitored processes.

Option B (fw ctl get str watchdog): Not a valid parameter for retrieving the list of monitored processes; “fw ctl” deals with kernel parameters.

Option C (cpwd_admin list): Correct command that lists all processes monitored by CPWD, their status, and how many times they have been restarted.

Option D (ps -ef | grep watchd): This will list any running process that matches the string “watchd” but will not specifically detail which processes are being monitored by CPWD.

Therefore, the best answer iscpwd_admin list.

Check Point Troubleshooting References

sk97638: Explains Check Point WatchDog (CPWD) usage and the cpwd_admin utility.

R81.20 CLI Reference Guide: Describes common troubleshooting commands including cpwd_admin list.

Check Point Gaia Administration Guide: Provides instructions for monitoring system processes and verifying CPWD.

A core dump file is essentially a snapshot of the process's memory at the time of the crash. This snapshot includes crucial information that can help diagnose the cause of the crash. Here's why all the options are relevant:

i. Program Counter:This register stores the address of the next instruction the CPU was supposed to execute. It pinpoints exactly where in the code the crash occurred.

ii. Stack Pointer:This register points to the top of the call stack, which shows the sequence of function calls that led to the crash. This helps trace the program's execution flow before the crash.

iii. Memory management information:This includes details about the process's memory allocations, which can reveal issues like memory leaks or invalid memory access attempts.

iv. Other Processor and OS flags/information:This encompasses various registers and system information that provide context about the state of the processor and operating system at the time of the crash.

By analyzing this information within the core dump, you can often identify the root cause of the crash, such as a segmentation fault, null pointer dereference, or stack overflow.

Check Point Troubleshooting References:

While core dumps are a general concept in operating systems, Check Point's documentation touches upon them in the context of troubleshooting specific processes like fwd (firewall) or cpd (Check Point daemon). The fw ctl zdebug command, for example, can be used to trigger a core dump of the fwd process for debugging purposes.

When a Security Gateway performs a URL lookup and the URL is not found in the local caches, a request for online categorization is necessary. This process involves the Resource Advisor Daemon (RAD), which has components in both kernel space and user space.

Based on descriptions of the URL Filtering categorization process (often cited in CCTE R81.20 materials):

A client (internal component, potentially the URLF Kernel Client or a similar kernel module handling the traffic) initiates a URL lookup.

The URL is first checked against kernel caches.

If the URL is not found in the kernel cache (a cache miss), the RAD kernel component is notified.

The client component then typically sends an asynchronous request to the RAD kernel component.

The RAD Kernel Space component is then responsible for forwarding this request to the RAD User Space module.

The RAD User Space module handles the actual online categorization, often by querying the URLF Online Service (Check Point's cloud-based categorization service).

The result is then returned, and the kernel cache is updated.

The question asks where the sync-request (or a request requiring immediate online lookup) is forwarded from. In this flow, the RAD Kernel Space acts as the intermediary that forwards the request from the initial kernel-level lookup mechanism to the user-space RAD process for further handling.

Supporting Information (derived from CCTE R81.20 related materials/discussions):

The typical flow for URL categorization when an online lookup is needed involves these steps:

"The kernel cache notifies the RAD kernel of hits and misses."

"The client sends an a-sync request back to RAD if the URL was not found." (This request goes to the RAD Kernel Space).

"The a-sync request is forwarded to the RAD User space via the RAD kernel for online categorization."

This indicates that the RAD Kernel (RAD Kernel Space) is the component that forwards the request to the RAD User Space.

Therefore, if a sync-request (a request needing immediate online lookup) is required, it is forwarded from the RAD Kernel Space to the RAD User Space.

Reference Context (based on CCTE R81.20 materials and general Check Point URL Filtering architecture):

Discussions and explanations related to Check Point Certified Troubleshooting Expert (CCTE) R81.20 curriculum often detail this RAD architecture. For example, study materials might state: "RAD has a kernel module that looks up the kernel cache, notifies client about hits and misses and forwards a-sync requests to RAD user space module which is responsible for online categorization." The 1 "RAD kernel module" corresponds to the RAD Kernel Space, and it is this component that performs the forwarding action to the RAD User Space.(Exact page numbers like "CCTE R81.20, p338/339" have been referenced in public CCTE exam discussions pointing to this flow)

The correct directory where an administrator can find vpn debug log files generated during Site-to-Site VPN troubleshooting is $FWDIR/log/. This directory contains the following files related to vpn debug:

vpnd.elg: This file contains the high-level VPN debug information, such as the VPN tunnel establishment, deletion, and negotiation messages. It can be enabled by using thevpn debug oncommand on the Security Gateway CLI.

legacy_ike.elg: This file contains the low-level IKE debug information for IKEv1, such as the IKE packets, encryption, decryption, and authentication. It can be enabled by using thevpn debug ikeoncommand on the Security Gateway CLI.

legacy_ikev2.xml: This file contains the low-level IKE debug information for IKEv2, such as the IKE packets, encryption, decryption, and authentication. It can be enabled by using thevpn debug ikev2oncommand on the Security Gateway CLI.

These files can be viewed by using thevpn debug viewcommand on the Security Gateway CLI, or by using theIKEViewtool on the Security Management Server GUI.

In Check Point Gaia, you can enable core dumping through the command line interface (clish) using the following command:

set core-dump enable

This command activates the core dump mechanism, allowing the system to generate core dump files when user processes crash. Remember to save the configuration after enabling core dumps with the command:

save config

Why other options are incorrect:

B. set core-dump total:This command is used to set the total disk space limit for core dump files, not to enable core dumping itself.

C. set user-dump enable:There is no such command in Gaia clish for enabling core dumps.

D. set core-dump per_process:This command sets the maximum number of core dump files allowed per process, but it doesn't enable core dumping.

Check Point Troubleshooting References:

Check Point R81.20 Security Administration Guide:This guide provides comprehensive information about Gaia clish commands, including those related to system configuration and troubleshooting.

Check Point sk92764:This knowledge base article specifically addresses core dump management in Gaia, explaining how to enable and configure core dumps.

Enabling core dumps is a crucial step in troubleshooting process crashes as it provides valuable information for analysis and debugging.

The Check Point process responsible for Mobile VPN connections, particularly those associated with the Mobile Access Software Blade (which includes SSL VPN and clientless access), is cvpnd (Connectra VPN Daemon).

Exact Extracts and Supporting Information:

Check Point CLI Reference Guide (for cvpnd_admin):

"cvpnd_admin. Description. Changes the behavior of the Mobile Access cvpnd process."

This command utility directly interacts with cvpnd for Mobile Access functionalities.  

Check Point Daemon Lists (e.g., from "tech :: stuff - Checkpoint Daemons and Processes Explained" or similar CCTE R81.20 documentation):

Under the "Mobile Access Blade" section, CVPND is typically listed as:"CVPND - Connectra VPN Daemon. Main daemon for the Mobile Access Software Blade."  

It's also often noted that the cpwd_admin list command (Check Point WatchDog) shows this process as "CVPND".  

Commands like cvpnstart and cvpnstop are used to manage this daemon.  

Exam Preparation Materials (e.g., ExamTopics for 156-586):

A question directly asking "Which process is responsible for Mobile VPN connections?" with options including cvpnd, vpnk, fwk, and vpnd, typically indicates cvpnd as the correct answer.

Explanation of other options:

B. fwk: This is a general suffix often related to firewall worker processes or kernel modules, not a specific high-level daemon for Mobile VPN.

C. vpnd: This is the main VPN daemon, primarily responsible for site-to-site IPsec VPNs and some traditional IPsec remote access clients. While it handles VPN functions, cvpnd is specialized for Mobile Access.  

D. vpnk: This refers to VPN kernel-level operations and modules (e.g., handling the actual encryption/decryption of traffic processed by IPsec SAs). It is not the user-space daemon that manages Mobile VPN sessions and policies.

Therefore, cvpnd is the specific process dedicated to managing Mobile VPN connections within the Check Point architecture.

Reference (based on official Check Point documentation naming and functionality):

Check Point R81.20 CLI Reference Guide (details for cvpnd_admin).

Check Point R81.20 Administration Guides (sections discussing Mobile Access architecture and daemons).

Commonly known Check Point process lists available in CCTE study materials.

The doctor-log script is a tool that provides information about the logging system and helps to identify and troubleshoot common issues. The script runs automatically every night and generates a report that contains the following information:

Current and daily average logging rates: This shows how many logs are being generated and received by the log server per second. It can help to monitor the logging performance and identify any spikes or drops in the logging rate.

Indexing status: This shows the status of the log indexing process, which enables faster and more efficient log searches. It can help to identify any issues with the indexing system, such as delays, failures, or errors.

Size: This shows the size of the log files and the disk space used by the logging system. It can help to manage the disk space and plan for log rotation and backup.

The doctor-log script also provides some troubleshooting tips and repair options for common logging issues, such as corrupted log files, missing log indexes, or low disk space. The script can be run manually or scheduled to run at a specific time. The script output can be viewed in the SmartConsole or in the log server file system.

CPWD (Check Point WatchDog)is the process that monitors, terminates (if necessary), and restarts critical Check Point processes (e.g., FWD, FWM, CPM) when they stop responding or crash.

CPM(Check Point Management process) is a process on the Management Server responsible for the web-based SmartConsole connections, policy installations, etc.

FWD(Firewall Daemon) handles logging and communication functions in the Security Gateway.

FWM(FireWall Management) is an older reference to the management process on the Management Server for older versions.

Therefore, the best answer isCPWD.

Check Point Troubleshooting References

sk97638: Check Point WatchDog (CPWD) process explanation and commands.

R81.20 Administration Guide– Section on CoreXL, Daemons, and CPWD usage.

sk105217: Best Practices – Explains system processes, how to monitor them, and how CPWD is utilized.

The Global Domain is one of the relational database domains in the Postgres database that stores the management configuration. The purpose of the Global Domain is to serve as the global database for Multi-Domain Security Management (MDSM) and contain the global objects and policies that are shared across all domains. The Global Domain also stores the global settings, such as the administrator roles, the LDAP servers, the IPS profiles, and the SmartEvent views. The Global Domain can be managed by the Global Domain Administrator or the Super User Administrator using the SmartConsole. The Global Domain can be backed up and restored using the mds_backup and mds_restore commands.

The correct command to enter the PostgreSQL interactive shell is psql_client cpm postgres. This command allows the administrator to view and manipulate the database of the Check Point Management (CPM) module, which stores the configuration and policy data. The psql_client command is a Check Point wrapper for the psql command, which is the native PostgreSQL interactive shell. The psql_client command takes two arguments: the first one is the name of the database module, and the second one is the name of the database user. In this case, the database module is cpm and the database user is postgres.

The other commands are incorrect because:

A. mysql_client cpm postgres is not a valid command. The mysql_client command is used to access the MySQL database, which is not used by Check Point. The Check Point database is based on PostgreSQL, not MySQL.

B. mysql -u root is not a valid command. The mysql command is used to access the MySQL database, which is not used by Check Point. The Check Point database is based on PostgreSQL, not MySQL. Moreover, the -u option specifies the MySQL user name, which is not relevant for Check Point.

D. psql_client postgres cpm is not a valid command. The psql_client command takes the database module name as the first argument, and the database user name as the second argument. In this case, the database module name is cpm and the database user name is postgres. The order of the arguments is reversed in this command.