FortiGate
FortiGate Next Generation Firewall utilizes purpose-built security processors and threat intelligence security services from FortiGuard labs to deliver top-rated protection and high performance, including encrypted traffic.
kaurg_FTNT
Staff
Staff
Article Id 280009
Description

This article describes an issue where, after upgrading the FortiGate from 7.0, 7.2 to 7.4, users are unable to change the managed FortiSwitch name from the GUI.

Scope FortiGate v7.4.x., FortiSwitch
Solution

In version 7.2 and prior versions, it is possible to make the switch name changes by using the following CLI command:


config switch-controller managed-switch

    edit <switch-id>       <----- Usually this switch-id is the serial number.

        set name <NAME>

    next
end


This can also be done the following way in the GUI:

v7.2.11-Name.png

The command 'set name' has been removed from v7.4.x+.

 

kaurg_FTNT_4-1697760920056.png

 

When upgrading is complete, the switch names are now restored as switch-id. Therefore, managed FortiSwitch name cannot be changed when the device is already authorized.


Since FortiOS 7.4 allows the switch-id to be a maximum of 16 characters in length, any switch names meeting this criterion will now be seen in 'switch-id'.


Any switch name which exceeds the maximum character criteria will be lost after an upgrade.

 

See this documentation page for FortiLink naming rules.

 

When upgrading the firewall, the switch names are lost. It is only possible to see the FortiSwitch serial number in the 'Name' field in GUI.


To rename the managed FortiSwitch in v7.4 from GUI, it is required to de-authorize the FortiSwitch and then rename it. This will cause the FortiSwitch to go offline, so this must be done during a maintenance window to avoid any outages during production time.

To add the FortiSwitch name, rename the managed FortiSwitch using the following CLI command on FortiGate:

 

config switch-controller managed-switch
    rename <switch-id> to <NAME>
end


Once renamed, it will show a warning that the managed switch will go offline momentarily.
Type 'y' and press enter.

 

kaurg_FTNT_1-1697760874644.png

 

After the change is made, the FortiGate GUI will reflect the change.

Note: Renaming the managed FortiSwitch from CLI is deauthorizing the FortiSwitch in the background and thus causing the FortiSwitch to go offline. Therefore, this must also be done during a maintenance window to avoid any outages during production time.

The name cannot be edited via the GUI.

 

kaurg_FTNT_2-1697760874646.png

 

This behavior is part of the feature change on v7.4.0.

It is added under New Feature in Release notes of 7.4.0 with ID 769722.

 

As of the introduction of this feature, it is no longer possible to edit the serial number of the device. It is a read-only command.

Even if it was configured via the CLI, the following error would be thrown after it exits the hierarchy:

  kaurg_FTNT_3-1697760874650.png

 

Related document:

New features or enhancements | FortiGate / FortiOS 7.4.0 | Fortinet Document Library.