Inquiry Regarding Communication When Changing Switch Name

[DongHwan1]

Hello. We are currently using FortiSwitches with FortiLink.
In version 7.2.x, I understand that changing the FortiSwitch name does not affect active sessions. Recently, we upgraded all our devices (gate, switch, AP) to 7.4.x.

We have about 20 switches in use.

However, when we change a switch name from the gate, it appears that some other switches temporarily disconnect and reconnect. It also seems that active sessions are interrupted.

Based on my research, it seems that when a managed switch is renamed, it is deauthorized and then rejoined, which causes all sessions to be dropped. As the switch reconnects, STP path recalculation occurs, so session drops or other switches disconnecting may be observed. Is this understanding correct?

I referred to the following URI for this information:
community.fortinet.com/t5/FortiGate/Technical-Tip-Unable-to-change-managed-FortiSwitch-name-after/ta...
docs.fortinet.com/document/fortiswitch/7.4.0/fortilink-guide/59264/defining-names-for-managed-switches

Could you please confirm if my understanding is correct?

[AEK · Accepted solution]

Hello Dong

I'm not familiar with this but it seems related to the fact that starting from 7.4.1, FortiLink secure fabric works with SSL certificates.

https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortiswitch/7.6.1/fortilink-guide/268009/fortilink-secure-fabric

In that case "I suppose" the certificate is regenerated with the new hostname when you change it, and this restarts the SSL/TLS connection, so probably that's what causes the interruption.

That's just my though, needs confirmation.