Configuring FortiGate units for HA using the CLI

High availability installation

 

 

Inserting an HA cluster into your network temporarily interrupts communications on the network because new physical connections are being made to route traffic through the cluster. Also, starting the cluster interrupts network traffic until the individual FortiGate units in the cluster are functioning and the cluster completes negotiation. Cluster negotiation normally takes just a few seconds. During system startup and negotiation all network traffic is dropped.

To connect the cluster

1Connect the cluster units:

Connect the LAN interfaces of each FortiGate unit to a switch or hub connected to a network.

Connect port 1 of each FortiGate unit to a switch or hub connected to your internal network.

Connect port 2 of each FortiGate unit to a switch or hub connected to your external network.

Optionally connect ports 3, 5, and 6 of each FortiGate unit to switches or hubs connected to other networks.

Connect port 4 of each FortiGate unit to another switch or hub. By default port4 is used for HA heartbeat communication. These interfaces should be connected together for the HA cluster to function.

Figure 11: HA network configuration

Internal Network

Port 1 Port 2

 

CONSOLE

USB

 

 

LAN

 

 

 

10/100

 

 

10/100/1000

Esc

Enter

 

L1

L2

L3

L4

1

2

3

4

5

6

A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hub or

Hub or

 

 

 

Switch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Switch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port 4

 

CONSOLE

USB

 

 

LAN

 

 

 

10/100

 

 

10/100/1000

Esc

Enter

 

L1

L2

L3

L4

1

2

3

4

5

6

A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Router

Port 1 Port 2

Internet

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01-28005-0101-20041015

Fortinet Inc.

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Fortinet 127, FORTIGATE, 500A, Network Router manual To connect the cluster, HA network configuration

500A, Network Router, 127, FORTIGATE specifications

Fortinet FortiGate 127 is an advanced network security appliance designed to deliver comprehensive protection to organizations while ensuring seamless network performance. As a part of Fortinet's leading next-generation firewall (NGFW) offerings, the FortiGate 127 integrates various essential features and technologies that are critical for modern network security.

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