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Cookbook

Configuring the backup FortiGate

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Configuring the backup FortiGate

  1. If required, change the firmware running on the new FortiGate to be the same version as is running on the primary FortiGate.
  2. Enter the following command to reset the new backup FortiGate to factory default settings.

    execute factoryreset

    You can skip this step if the new FortiGate is fresh from the factory. But if its configuration has been changed at all, it's a best practice to reset your FortiGate to factory defaults to reduce the chance of synchronization problems.

  3. Register and apply licenses to the backup FortiGate before configuring it for HA operation. This includes licensing for FortiCare Support, IPS, AntiVirus, Web Filtering, Mobile Malware, FortiClient, FortiCloud, Security Rating, Outbreak Prevention, and additional virtual domains (VDOMs). All FortiGates in the cluster must have the same level of licensing for FortiGuard, FortiCloud, FortiClient, and VDOMs. You can add FortiToken licenses at any time because they're synchronized to all cluster members.
  4. Note

    If the FortiGates in the cluster will run FortiOS Carrier, apply the FortiOS Carrier license before you configure the cluster (and before applying other licenses). When you applying the FortiOS Carrier license the FortiGate resets its configuration to factory defaults, requiring you to repeat steps performed before applying the license.

  5. Click on the System Information dashboard widget and select Configure settings in System > Settings. Change the FortiGate's Host name to identify it as the backup FortiGate.

    You can also enter this CLI command:

    config system global

    set hostname Backup

    end

    Duplicate the primary FortiGate HA settings, except set the Device Priority to a lower value (for example, 50) and do not enable override.

    config system ha

    set mode a-p

    set group-id 100

    set group-name My-cluster

    set password <password>

    set priority 50

    set hbdev lan4 200 lan5 100

    end

    Similar to when configuring the primary FortiGate, once you enter the CLI command the backup FortiGate negotiates to establish an HA cluster. You may temporarily lose connectivity with the FortiGate as FGCP negotiation takes place and the MAC addresses of the FortiGate interfaces are changed to HA virtual MAC addresses.

    Note

    If these steps don't start HA mode, make sure that none of the FortiGate's interfaces use DHCP or PPPoE addressing.

Configuring the backup FortiGate

  1. If required, change the firmware running on the new FortiGate to be the same version as is running on the primary FortiGate.
  2. Enter the following command to reset the new backup FortiGate to factory default settings.

    execute factoryreset

    You can skip this step if the new FortiGate is fresh from the factory. But if its configuration has been changed at all, it's a best practice to reset your FortiGate to factory defaults to reduce the chance of synchronization problems.

  3. Register and apply licenses to the backup FortiGate before configuring it for HA operation. This includes licensing for FortiCare Support, IPS, AntiVirus, Web Filtering, Mobile Malware, FortiClient, FortiCloud, Security Rating, Outbreak Prevention, and additional virtual domains (VDOMs). All FortiGates in the cluster must have the same level of licensing for FortiGuard, FortiCloud, FortiClient, and VDOMs. You can add FortiToken licenses at any time because they're synchronized to all cluster members.
  4. Note

    If the FortiGates in the cluster will run FortiOS Carrier, apply the FortiOS Carrier license before you configure the cluster (and before applying other licenses). When you applying the FortiOS Carrier license the FortiGate resets its configuration to factory defaults, requiring you to repeat steps performed before applying the license.

  5. Click on the System Information dashboard widget and select Configure settings in System > Settings. Change the FortiGate's Host name to identify it as the backup FortiGate.

    You can also enter this CLI command:

    config system global

    set hostname Backup

    end

    Duplicate the primary FortiGate HA settings, except set the Device Priority to a lower value (for example, 50) and do not enable override.

    config system ha

    set mode a-p

    set group-id 100

    set group-name My-cluster

    set password <password>

    set priority 50

    set hbdev lan4 200 lan5 100

    end

    Similar to when configuring the primary FortiGate, once you enter the CLI command the backup FortiGate negotiates to establish an HA cluster. You may temporarily lose connectivity with the FortiGate as FGCP negotiation takes place and the MAC addresses of the FortiGate interfaces are changed to HA virtual MAC addresses.

    Note

    If these steps don't start HA mode, make sure that none of the FortiGate's interfaces use DHCP or PPPoE addressing.