Configuring a Transparent mode active-active cluster of two FortiGate units – web-based man- ager

Use the following procedures to configure the FortiGate units for HA operation using the FortiGate web-based manager. These procedures assume you are starting with two FortiGate units with factory default settings.

Waiting until you have established the cluster to switch to Transparent mode means fewer configuration steps because you can switch the mode of the cluster in one step.

 

To configure the first FortiGate unit (host name FGT_ha_1)

1. You can also install any third-party certificates on the primary FortiGate before forming the cluster. Once the cluster is formed third-party certificates are synchronized to the backup FortiGate.

2. On the System Information dashboard widget, beside Host Name select Change.

3. Enter a new Host Name for this FortiGate unit.

 

New Name                                  FGT_ha_1

4. Select OK.

5. Go to System > HA and change the following settings:

Mode                                           Active-Active

Group Name                              example2.com

Password                                   HA_pass_2

This is the minimum recommended configuration for an active-active HA cluster. You can configure other HA options at this point, but if you wait until the cluster is operating you will only have to configure these options once for the cluster instead of separately for each cluster unit.

6. Select OK.

The FortiGate unit negotiates to establish an HA cluster. When you select OK you may temporarily lose connectivity with the FortiGate unit as the HA cluster negotiates and the FGCP changes the MAC address of the FortiGate unit interfaces. The MAC addresses of the FortiGate interfaces change to the following virtual MAC addresses:

• port1 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-00 l  port2 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-01 l  port3 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-02 l  port4 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-03

To reconnect sooner, you can update the ARP table of your management PC by deleting the ARP table entry for the FortiGate unit (or just deleting all arp table entries). You may be able to delete the arp table of your management PC from a command prompt using a command similar to arp -d.

To confirm these MAC address changes, you can use the get hardware nic (or diagnose hardware deviceinfo nic) CLI command to view the virtual MAC address of any FortiGate unit interface. For example, use the following command to view the port1 interface virtual MAC address (MAC) and the port1 permanent MAC address (Permanent_HWaddr):

get hardware nic port1

 

Current_HAaddr   00:09:0f:09:00:00

Permanent_HWaddr 02:09:0f:78:18:c9

 

10. Power off the first FortiGate unit.