Special Notices

This section highlights some of the operational changes that administrators should be aware of in 7.4.1.

Apache-mode changed from prefork to event

Before version 7.4.0, the default "apache-mode" utilized the "prefork" mode. However, starting from version 7.4.1, the default configuration switches to the "event" mode.

This change is aimed at supporting the HTTP/2.0 protocol. With HTTP/2.0, there is no limit on the maximum concurrency of HTTP requests, potentially leading to slower GUI performance if the client's environment imposes restrictions , whether network or implementation-related. HTTP/2 may face issues such as head-of-line blocking and resource prioritization, leading to slower performance compared to HTTP/1. Additionally, server push and intermediaries struggling with encrypted headers can further complicate matters. Implementing HTTP/2 requires more computational resources, which may affect response times. These complexities highlight scenarios where HTTP/1 might outperform HTTP/2.

If customers experience GUI slowness, they have the option to revert to the "prefork" mode using the following commands:

config system global

(global)# set apache-mode prefork

(global)# end

FortiManager 7.2.3 and later firmware on FortiGuard

Starting in FortiManager 7.2.1, a setup wizard executes to prompt the user for various configuration steps and registration with FortiCare. During the execution, the FortiManager unit attempts to communicate with FortiGuard for a list of FortiManager firmware images currently available on FortiGuard – older and newer.

In the case of FortiManager 7.2.2, a bug in the GUI prevents the wizard from completing and prevents the user from accessing the FortiManager unit. The issue has been fixed in 7.2.3 and later and a CLI command has been added to bypass the setup wizard at login time.

config system admin setting

set firmware-upgrade-check disable

end

Fortinet has not uploaded FortiManager 7.2.3 and later firmware to FortiGuard in order to work around the GUI bug, however, the firmware is available for download from the Fortinet Support website.

Serial console has changed for FortiManager deployments on Xen

As of FortiManager 7.4.1, the serial console for Xen deployments has changed from hvc0 (Xen specific) to ttyS0 (standard).

OpenXen in PV mode is not supported in FortiManager 7.4.1

As of FortiManager 7.4.1, kernel and rootfs are encrypted. OpenXen in PV mode tries to unzip the kernel and rootfs, but it will fail. Therefore, OpenXen in PV mode cannot be used when deploying or upgrading to FortiManager 7.4.1. Only HVM (hardware virtual machine) mode is supported for OpenXen in FortiManager 7.4.1.

Default GUI theme changed

As of FortiManager 7.4.1, the default GUI theme is Jade. The default theme can be changed from System Settings > Settings.

Option to enable permission check when copying policies

As of 7.4.0, a new command is added in the CLI:

config system global

set no-copy-permission-check {enable | disable}

end

By default, this is set to disable. When set to enable, a check is performed when copying policies to prevent changing global device objects if the user does not have permission.

Management Extensions visibility in the GUI

As of FortiManager 7.4.0, the Management Extensions pane is only visible in the GUI when docker status is enabled and at least one management extension application (MEA) is enabled and downloaded. For more information about enabling and using the MEAs, see the Management Extensions documentation in the FortiManager Documents Library.

Install On column for policies

Prior to version 7.2.3, the 'Install-on' column for policies in the policy block had no effect. However, starting from version 7.2.3, the 'Install-on' column is operational and significantly impacts the behavior and installation process of policies. It's important to note that using 'Install-on' on policies in the policy block is not recommended. If required, this setting can only be configured through a script or JSON APIs.

SD-WAN Orchestrator removed in 7.2

Starting in 7.2.0, the SD-WAN Orchestrator is no longer available in FortiManager. Instead, you can use the SD-WAN Overlay Template wizard to configure your SD-WAN overlay network.

For more information, see SD-WAN Overlay Templates in the FortiManager Administration Guide.

Changes to FortiManager meta fields

Beginning in 7.2.0, FortiManager supports policy object metadata variables.

When upgrading from FortiManager 7.0 to 7.2.0 and later, FortiManager will automatically create ADOM-level metadata variable policy objects for meta fields previously configured in System Settings that have per-device mapping configurations detected. Objects using the meta field, for example CLI templates, are automatically updated to use the new metadata variable policy objects.

Meta fields in System Settings can continue to be used as comments/tags for configurations.

For more information, see ADOM-level meta variables for general use in scripts, templates, and model devices.

Setup wizard requires FortiCare registration

Starting in FortiManager 7.2.1, the FortiManager Setup wizard requires you to complete the Register with FortiCare step before you can access the FortiManager appliance or VM. Previously the step was optional.

For FortiManager units operating in a closed environment, contact customer service to receive an entitlement file, and then load the entitlement file to FortiManager by using the CLI.

Access lists as ADOM-level objects

Starting in 7.2.0, FortiManager supports IPv4 and IPv6 access lists as ADOM-level object configurations from FortiGate. Previously, access lists were controlled by the device database/FortiGate configuration.

After upgrading to 7.2.0 from an earlier release, the next time you install changes to a FortiGate device with an IPv4 or IPv6 access list, FortiManager will purge the device database/FortiGate configuration which may have previously contained the access list. To address this, administrators can re-import the FortiGate policy configuration to an ADOM's policy package or re-create the IPv4/IPv6 access list in the original package.

View Mode is disabled in policies when policy blocks are used

When policy blocks are added to a policy package, the View Mode option is no longer available, and policies in the table cannot be arranged by Interface Pair View. This occurs because policy blocks typically contain policies with multiple interfaces, however, View Mode is still disabled even when policy blocks respect the interface pair.

Reconfiguring Virtual Wire Pairs (VWP)

A conflict can occur between the ADOM database and device database when a Virtual Wire Pair (VWP) is installed on a managed FortiGate that already has a configured VWP in the device database. This can happen when an existing VWP has been reconfigured or replaced.

Before installing the VWP, you must first remove the old VWP from the device's database, otherwise a policy and object validation error may occur during installation. You can remove the VWP from the device database by going to Device Manager > Device & Groups, selecting the managed device, and removing the VWP from System > Interface.

Scheduling firmware upgrades for managed devices

Starting in FortiManager 7.0.0, firmware templates should be used to schedule firmware upgrades on managed FortiGates. Attempting firmware upgrade from the FortiManager GUI by using legacy methods may ignore the schedule upgrade option and result in FortiGates being upgraded immediately.

Modifying the interface status with the CLI

Starting in version 7.0.1, the CLI to modify the interface status has been changed from up/down to enable/disable.

For example:

config system interface

edit port2

set status <enable/disable>

next

end

SD-WAN with upgrade to 7.0

Due to design change with SD-WAN Template, upgrading to FortiManager 7.0 may be unable to maintain dynamic mappings for all SD-WAN interface members. Please reconfigure all the missing interface mappings after upgrade.

Citrix XenServer default limits and upgrade

Citrix XenServer limits ramdisk to 128M by default. However the FMG-VM64-XEN image is larger than 128M. Before updating to FortiManager 6.4, increase the size of the ramdisk setting on Citrix XenServer.

To increase the size of the ramdisk setting:

1. On Citrix XenServer, run the following command:

   xenstore-write /mh/limits/pv-ramdisk-max-size 536,870,912

2. Confirm the setting is in effect by running xenstore-ls.

   -----------------------

   limits = ""

   pv-kernel-max-size = "33554432"

   pv-ramdisk-max-size = "536,870,912"

   boot-time = ""

   ---------------------------

3. Remove the pending files left in /run/xen/pygrub.

The ramdisk setting returns to the default value after rebooting.

Multi-step firmware upgrades

Prior to using the FortiManager to push a multi-step firmware upgrade, confirm the upgrade path matches the path outlined on our support site. To confirm the path, please run:

dia fwmanager show-dev-upgrade-path <device name> <target firmware>

Alternatively, you can push one firmware step at a time.

Hyper-V FortiManager-VM running on an AMD CPU

A Hyper-V FMG-VM running on a PC with an AMD CPU may experience a kernel panic. Fortinet recommends running VMs on an Intel-based PC.

SSLv3 on FortiManager-VM64-AWS

Due to known vulnerabilities in the SSLv3 protocol, FortiManager-VM64-AWS only enables TLSv1 by default. All other models enable both TLSv1 and SSLv3. If you wish to disable SSLv3 support, please run:

config system global

set ssl-protocol t1sv1

end