Setting up the hardware

1. Install a FortiGate-5000 series chassis and connect it to power.
2. Install the FortiController in slots 1 and 2.
3. Install the workers in slots 3, 4, and 5.
4. Power on the chassis.

5. Check the chassis, FortiController, and FortiGate LEDs to verify that all components are operating normally.

   To check normal operation LED status see the FortiGate-5000 hardware guides and FortiController hardware guides.

6. Create duplicate connections from the FortiController front panel interfaces to the internet and to the internal network.

7. Create a heartbeat link by connecting the FortiController B1 interfaces together. Create a secondary heartbeat link by connecting the FortiController B2 interfaces together.

   You can directly connect the heartbeat interfaces with a patch cable or connect them through a switch. If you use a switch, it must allow traffic on the heartbeat VLAN (default 999) and the base control and management VLANs (301 and 101). These connections establish heartbeat, base control, and base management communication between the FortiControllers.

   Only one heartbeat connection is required but redundant connections are recommended.

8. Connect the mgmt interfaces of both FortiControllers to the internal network or any network to manage the cluster from.
9. Check the FortiController release notes for the latest supported FortiController and FortiGate firmware.

10. Get FortiController and FortiOS firmware from the Fortinet Support site.

    For FortiController firmware, select the FortiSwitchATCA product.