Swapping hard disks

If a hard disk on a FortiManager unit fails, it must be replaced. On FortiManager devices that support hardware RAID, the hard disk can be replaced while the unit is still running - known as hot swapping. On FortiManager units with software RAID, the device must be shutdown prior to exchanging the hard disk.

To identify which hard disk failed, read the relevant log message in the Alert Message Console widget. See Alert Messages Console widget.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage FortiManager equipment. Only perform the procedures described in this document from an ESD workstation. If no such station is available, you can provide some ESD protection by wearing an anti-static wrist or ankle strap and attaching it to an ESD connector or to a metal part of a FortiManager chassis.

When replacing a hard disk, you need to first verify that the new disk is the same size as those supplied by Fortinet and has at least the same capacity as the old one in the FortiManager unit. Installing a smaller hard disk will affect the RAID setup and may cause data loss. Due to possible differences in sector layout between disks, the only way to guarantee that two disks have the same size is to use the same brand and model. The size provided by the hard drive manufacturer for a given disk model is only an approximation. The exact size is determined by the number of sectors present on the disk.

To hot swap a hard disk on a device that supports hardware RAID:

1. Remove the faulty hard disk.
2. Install a new disk.

   The FortiManager unit automatically adds the new disk to the current RAID array. The status appears on the console. The RAID Management pane displays a green checkmark icon for all disks and the RAID Status area displays the progress of the RAID re-synchronization/rebuild.