Device Configurations – FortiManager 5.2

Managing configuration revision history

In the Device Manager tab, select a device in the tree-menu. In the device dashboard Configuration and Installation Status widget, select Revision History in the Total Revisions row, to view the FortiManager repository.

Revision history tab

The repository stores all configuration revisions for the devices, and tags each revision with a version/ID number. You can view the version history, inspect configuration changes, import files from a local computer, view configuration settings, compare different revisions, revert to previous settings, and download configuration files to a local computer.

View Installation History Select to display the installation record of the device, including the ID assigned by the FortiManager system to identify the version of the configuration file installed and the time and date of the installation. You can also view the installation history log and download the log file.
Retrieve Select to check out the current configuration running on the device. If there are differences between the configuration file on the device and the configuration file in the repository, a new revision will be created and assigned a new ID number.

Managing configuration revision history

Import Select to import a configuration file from a local computer to the FortiManager system. See To import a configuration file from a local computer:.
ID A number assigned by the FortiManager system to identify the version of the configuration file saved in the FortiManager repository. Select an ID to view the configuration file. You can also select the Download button to save this configuration file from the FortiManager system to a local computer. See To view the configuration settings on a FortiGate unit: and To download a configuration file to a local computer:.
Name A name added by the user to make it easier to identify specific configuration versions. You can select a name to edit it and add comments.
Created by The time and date when the configuration file was created, and the person who created the file.
Installation Display whether a configuration file has been installed or is currently active. The installation time and date is displayed.

N/A status indicates that a particular revision was not sent to the device. The typical situation is that the changes were part of a later revision that was sent out to the device. For example, you make some changes and commit the changes. Now you have a revision called ID1. Then you make more changes and commit the changes again. Then you have a revision called ID2, which also includes the changes you made in revision ID1. If you install revision ID2, then the status of revision ID1 becomes N/A.

Comments Display the comment added to this configuration file when you edit the file name.
Diff icon Show only the changes or differences between two versions of a configuration file. See Comparing different configuration files for more details.
Delete icon Delete this version from the repository. You cannot delete a version that is currently active on the FortiGate unit.
Revert icon Revert the current configuration to the selected revision. See To revert to another configuration file:.

To view the configuration settings on a FortiGate unit:

  1. In the content pane with a device already selected, go to the Configuration and Installation Status widget, in the Total Revisions row, select Revision History.
  2. Select the ID for the revision you want to view. You are automatically redirected to the View Configuration page.
  3. Select Return when you finish viewing.

You can download the configuration settings if you want by selecting Download in the View Configuration page.

For more information, see Downloading and importing a configuration file.

To add a tag (name) to a configuration version on a FortiGate unit:

  1. In the content pane with a device already selected, go to the Configuration and Installation Status widget, in the Total Revisions row, select Revision History.
  2. Select the Name for the version you want to change.

Add a tag to a configuration version

  1. Type a name in the Tag (Name)
  2. Optionally, type information in the Comments
  3. Select OK.

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This entry was posted in Administration Guides, FortiManager and tagged , on by .

About Mike

Michael Pruett, CISSP has a wide range of cyber-security and network engineering expertise. The plethora of vendors that resell hardware but have zero engineering knowledge resulting in the wrong hardware or configuration being deployed is a major pet peeve of Michael's. This site was started in an effort to spread information while providing the option of quality consulting services at a much lower price than Fortinet Professional Services. Owns PacketLlama.Com (Fortinet Hardware Sales) and Office Of The CISO, LLC (Cybersecurity consulting firm).

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