Configuring active-passive HA cluster that includes redundant interfaces – CLI

Configuring active-passive HA cluster that includes redundant interfaces – CLI

These procedures assume you are starting with two FortiGate units with factory default settings.

 

To configure the FortiGate units for HA operation

1. Register and apply licenses to the FortiGate unit. This includes FortiCloud activation, FortiClient licensing, and FortiToken licensing, and entering a license key if you purchased more than 10 Virtual Domains (VDOMS).

2. 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..

3. Change the host name for this FortiGate unit:

config system global

set hostname FGT_ha_1 end

4. Configure HA settings.

config system ha set mode a-p

set group-name example6.com set password HA_pass_6

set hbdev port5 50 port6 50 end

Since port3 and port4 will be used for a redundant interface, you must change the HA heartbeat configuration.

The FortiGate unit negotiates to establish an HA cluster. 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
  • port10 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-01 l  port11 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-02 l  port12 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-03 l  port13 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-04 l  port14 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-05 l  port15 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-06 l  port16 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-07 l  port17 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-08 l  port18 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-09 l  port19 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0a l  port2 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0b
  • port20 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0c
  • port3 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0d l  port4 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0e l  port5 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0f l  port6 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-10 l  port7 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-11 l  port8 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-12 l  port9 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-13

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.

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 (Current_HWaddr) and the port1 permanent MAC address (Permanent_HWaddr):

get hardware nic port1

 

MAC: 00:09:0f:09:00:00

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

 

4. Repeat these steps for the other FortiGate unit.

Set the other FortiGate unit host name to:

config system global

set hostname FGT_ha_2 end

 

To connect the cluster to the network

1. Connect the port1 and port2 interfaces of FGT_ha_1 and FGT_ha_2 to a switch connected to the Internet.

Configure the switch so that the port1 and port2 of FGT_ha_1 make up a redundant interface and port1 and port2 of FGT_ha_2 make up another redundant interface.

2. Connect the port3 and port4 interfaces of FGT_ha_1 and FGT_ha_2 to a switch connected to the internal network.

Configure the switch so that the port3 and port4 of FGT_ha_1 make up a redundant interface and port3 and port4 of FGT_ha_2 make up another redundant interface.

3. Connect the port5 interfaces of FGT_ha_1 and FGT_ha_2 together. You can use a crossover Ethernet cable or regular Ethernet cables and a switch.

4. Connect the port5 interfaces of the cluster units together. You can use a crossover Ethernet cable or regular

Ethernet cables and a switch.

5. Power on the cluster units.

The units start and negotiate to choose the primary unit and the subordinate unit. This negotiation occurs with no user intervention and normally takes less than a minute.

When negotiation is complete the cluster is ready to be configured for your network.

 

To view cluster status

Use the following steps to view cluster status from the CLI.

1. Log into the CLI.

2. Enter get system status to verify the HA status of the cluster unit that you logged into.Look for the following information in the command output.

Current HA mode: a-a, master

The cluster units are operating as a cluster and you have connected to the primary unit.

 

 

Current backup

 

HA

 

mode:

 

a-a,

The cluster units are operating as a cluster a subordinate unit.
 

Current dalone

 

HA

 

mode:

 

stan-

The cluster unit is not operating in HA mode

 

nd you have connected to a

3. Enter the following command to confirm the HA configuration of the cluster:

get system ha status

Model: XXXX Mode: a-a Group: 0

Debug: 0

ses_pickup: disable

Master:128 FGT_ha_2 FG600B3908600825 0

Slave :128 FGT_ha_1 FG600B3908600705 1 number of vcluster: 1

vcluster 1: work 169.254.0.1

Master:0 FG600B3908600825

Slave :1 FG600B3908600705

The command output shows both cluster units, their host names, their roles in the cluster, and their priorities. You can use this command to confirm that the cluster is operating normally. For example, if the command shows only one cluster unit then the other unit has left the cluster for some reason.

 

To troubleshoot the cluster configuration

See Example HA and redundant interfaces on page 1413 to troubleshoot the cluster.

 

To add basic configuration settings and the redundant interfaces

Use the following steps to add a few basic configuration settings and the redundant interfaces.

1. Add a password for the admin administrative account.

config system admin edit admin

set password <psswrd>

end

2. Temporarily delete the default route.

You cannot add an interface to a redundant interface if any settings (such as the default route) are configured for it. In this example the index of the default route is 1.

 

config router static delete 1

end

3. Add the redundant interfaces:

config system interface edit Port1_Port2

set type redundant

set member port1 port2 set ip 172.20.120.141/24 set vdom root

next

edit Port3_Port4

set type redundant

set member port3 port4 set ip 10.11.101.100/24 set vdom root

end

The virtual MAC addresses of the FortiGate interfaces change to the following. Note that port1 and port2 both have the port1 virtual MAC address and port3 and port4 both have the port3 virtual MAC address:

 

  • port1 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-00
  • port10 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-01 l  port11 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-02 l  port12 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-03 l  port13 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-04 l  port14 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-05 l  port15 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-06 l  port16 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-07
  • port17 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-08 l  port18 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-09 l  port19 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0a
  • port2 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-00 (same as port1)
  • port20 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0c
  • port3 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0d
  • port4 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0d (same as port3)
  • port5 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-0f l  port6 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-10 l  port7 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-11 l  port8 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-12 l  port9 interface virtual MAC: 00-09-0f-09-00-13

4. Add the default route.

config router static edit 1

set dst 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 set gateway 172.20.120.2 set device Port1_Port2

end

 

To configure HA port monitoring for the redundant interfaces

1. Configure HA port monitoring for the redundant interfaces.

config system ha

set monitor Port1_Port2 Port3_Port4 end


Having trouble configuring your Fortinet hardware or have some questions you need answered? Check Out The Fortinet Guru Youtube Channel! Want someone else to deal with it for you? Get some consulting from Fortinet GURU!

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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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