Technical Tip: How to verify FortiGate and FortiSwitch integration status

FortiGate verification steps: Verify local NTP server configuration. Ensure FortiGate is configured as a local NTP server for FortiSwitch:

Under GUI, go to System -> Settings -> Setup device as local NTP server (enable). Listen on Interfaces: Select the FortiLink interface.

• Check FortiSwitch connection status.
• Verify the overall switch-controller connection.

execute switch-controller get-conn-status

• Verify the connection for a specific FortiSwitch:

execute switch-controller get-conn-status <FortiSwitch Serial Number>

Note:

How to change the password on a Managed FortiSwitch. Refer to the following article: Technical Tip: Change password on a Managed FortiSwitch.

FortiSwitch verification steps:

• Accessing the FortiSwitch using the console. Connect using 115200 baud.

• SSH access over FortiLink. If the switch received an IP from FortiGate:

execute ssh admin@10.255.1.2 

• Verify NTP synchronization status:

diagnose sys ntp status

• Verify system date/time & Check NTP configuration:

execute date
execute time

show system ntp

Expected Result:

If all verification steps above show no issues, the FortiSwitch status will appear as 'Online' under: WiFi & Switch Controller -> Managed FortiSwitches (the displayed status text may vary depending on the FortiOS version).

Note:

If the FortiSwitch still does not come online, verify that the FortiSwitch OS and FortiOS versions are compatible. This can be checked using the compatibility matrix from this document: FortiLink Compatibility.

Known Issue:

When the FortiGate is upgraded from earlier firmware versions to v7.6.1 or later, the default FortiSwitch discovery method changes.
This can cause FortiSwitch units to show offline if the LLDP settings were previously changed in FortiLink configuration.

To resolve the issue, enable 'lldp-reception' and 'lldp-transmission' to bring the FortiSwitches online.

config system interface
    edit <port>
        set lldp-reception enable
        set lldp-transmission enable
end