FortiGate-5001FA2 base backplane data communication
You can configure the FortiGate-5001FA2 boards for data communications using the two FortiGate-5140, FortiGate-5050, or FortiGate-5020 chassis base backplane interfaces.
Note: Different FortiGate-5000 series boards may use different names for the base backplane interfaces. For example, on the FortiGate-5001SX and FortiGate-5001FA2 boards the base backplane interfaces are called port9 and port10. On the FortiGate-5005FA2 and FortiGate-5001A boards the base backplane interfaces are called base1 and base2.
By default the base backplane interfaces are used for HA heartbeat communication. However, using the information in this section, you can configure the FortiGate-5001FA2 to also use the base backplane interfaces for data communication. Once the base backplane interfaces are configured for data communication you can operate and configure them in the same way as any FortiGate-5001FA2 interface.
Note: VLAN communication over the backplane is only available for FortiGate-5005FA2 boards installed in a FortiGate-5020 chassis. The FortiSwitch-5003 does not support VLAN-tagged packets so VLAN communication is not available over the FortiGate-5050 and FortiGate-5140 chassis backplanes.
Although not recommended, you can use base backplane interfaces for data communication and HA heartbeat communication at the same time.
In a FortiGate-5140 or FortiGate-5050 chassis, FortiGate-5001FA2 base backplane communication requires one or two FortiSwitch-5003 boards.
A FortiSwitch-5003 board installed in chassis slot 1 provides communication on the port9 interface. A FortiSwitch-5003 board installed in chassis slot 2 provides communication on the port10 interface. The FortiGate-5020 chassis supports base backplane data communication for both interfaces with no additions or changes to the chassis.
For details and configuration examples of FortiGate-5001FA2 base backplane communication using the FortiSwitch-5003 board, see the FortiGate-5000 Base Backplane Communication Guide.
To enable base backplane data communication from the FortiGate-5001FA2 web-based manager
From the FortiGate-5001FA2 web-based manager use the following steps to enable base backplane data communication.
1Go to System > Network > Interface.
2Select Show backplane interfaces.
The port9 and port10 backplane interfaces now appear in the Interface list.
