Technical Tip: How to configure FortiAnalyzer HA instance in Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

[tnesh]

Description

This article describes how to configure the FortiAnalyzer HA instance in the Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Scope

FortiAnalyzer-VM for GCP.

Important note:

• Ensure the user has Google Cloud platform accounts, projects, and permissions to the resources.
• All FortiAnalyzer HA instances must be in the Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• All FortiAnalyzer HA instances must be in the same Firmware version.
• All FortiAnalyzer HA instances must be running in the same Region with the same/different Zone.

FortiAnalyer HA instances	Region
faz-a-vm	asia-southeast1-a
faz-b-vm	asia-southeast1-a
faz-c-vm	asia-southeast1-b

• External IP address will be used as Virtual IP address for the HA cluster.
• FortiAnalyzer v7.4.2 will be used as an example throughout this article.

Solution

Google Cloud Platform (GCP):

1. Proceed to deploy all FortiAnalyzer-VM instances by referring to the following document: About FortiAnalyzer for GCP

2. Make sure all FortiAnalyzer-VM instances have set Cloud API -> Compute Engine access to Read Write
   GPC Portal -> Compute Engine -> VM instances -> Select the VM instance -> Details -> Edit -> Cloud API access -> Compute Engine -> Read Write -> Save.

Note:

Cloud API access can only be changed when the VM instance is stopped/shutdown.

3. Make sure the GCP VM network subnet used by all FortiAnalyzer-VM instances has enabled Private Google Access
   GPC Portal -> VPC network -> Select the subnet -> Edit -> Turn on Private Google Access -> Save.

4. Make sure the GCP network firewall has allowed all the required policies/ports between all FortiAnalyzer-VM instances. The below firewall policy is required to establish an HA cluster:

GCP Firewall Policy	Description
protocol 112	For HA keepalive / VRRP
tcp 514	For initial log sync
tcp 5199	For Configuration sync

GPC Portal -> VPC network -> Select the network -> Firewall -> Edit/Add Firewall rule -> Save/Create.

Note:

Ensure the firewall policy target is set correctly. 

5. Next, make sure the Virtual IP is a static IP address under GPC Portal -> VPC network -> IP address -> select the Virtual IP -> select Promote to the static IP address.

Note:

If External IP is used as Virtual IP like in this example, the network tier must be Premium.

FortiAnalyzer:

1. Download Google Root CA from https://pki.goog/repository/

2. Import all Google Root CA to all FortiAnalyzer-VM instances under GUI -> System Settings -> Certificates -> Import -> CA Certificates.

3. Proceed to configure HA settings in the FortiAnalyzer instance.

Primary and Secondary VM:

4. During the HA negotiation and synchronization, Secondary-VM will be disconnected and reconnected back.
5. Once all the FortiAnalyzer HA instances are up, verify the HA status: FortiAnalyzer GUI -> System Settings -> HA.

Test failover:

• During HA failover, FortiAnalyzer-VM Virtual IP will be transitioned to the new FortiAnalyzer-Primary.
• To test failover, kindly run the below CLI command on FortiAnalyzer-primary:

     FAZ-A # diag ha failover

Related article:

Technical Tip: FortiAnalyzer HA Configuration and Troubleshooting