Technical Tip: Resizing an Azure FortiGate VM instance

[JNDias]

Description

This article describes how to safely resize an Azure Cloud FortiGate VM instance, emphasizing the necessary prerequisites and step-by-step processes.

Scope

Microsoft Azure, FortiOS v7.4, FortiOS v7.2, FortiOS v7.0.

Solution

The resizing process is typically straightforward and efficient, but it's important to follow a few prerequisites:

1. Back up the FortiGate (FGT) configuration before making any changes.
2. Ensure that the FortiGate version is officially supported with the desired instance type.
3. Consider the licensing implications:
   • If using 'pay-as-you-go', the license will be automatically resized.
   • If using a 'Bring Your Own License' (BYOL), check the CPU limit.

Refer to the 'FortiGate Public Cloud' Azure Admin Guide documentation page for each version.

• Instance type support for 7.2.0.
• Instance type support for 7.4.0.

Process example:

1. Backup the FortiGate device configuration.
2. Shut down the VM.
   • Shut the VM down from the GUI or by running the CLI command execute shutdown.
   • In the Azure Console, select 'Stop' for the VM. Remember to reserve public IPs if necessary.
3. Wait for the VM status to change to 'Stopped (deallocated)'.
4. In the Azure Portal, navigate to the VMs page and go to Availability + Scale -> Size.
                                  

5. Select the desired new size for the VM and power it on.

Note: If the desired instance type is unavailable under 'Size', the solution is to redeploy the environment.

Related documents:

• FortiGate Azure datasheet
• Azure | Change the size of a virtual machine
• GitHub FortiGate Azure templates

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