NSE6_FSW-7.2 Questions and Answers

When transitioning the management of a FortiSwitch from standalone mode to being managed by FortiGate via FortiLink, it is critical to ensure that the existing configurations are preserved. The best practice involves:

FortiGate's Role in Configuration Preservation:FortiGate has the capability to automatically preserve the existing configuration of a FortiSwitch when it is integrated into the network via FortiLink. This feature helps ensure that the transition does not disrupt the network's operational settings.

Configuration Integration:As FortiSwitch is integrated into FortiGate's management via FortiLink, FortiGate captures and integrates the existing switch configuration, enabling a seamless transition. This process involves FortiGate recognizing the FortiSwitch and its current setup, then incorporating these settings into the centralized management interface without the need for manual reconfiguration or the use of additional tools.

References:For further details on managing FortiSwitch with FortiGate and the capabilities of FortiLink, consult the FortiSwitch and FortiGate integration guide available on:Fortinet Product Documentation

It provides benefits that can be obtained when using 802.1X authentication (C): MAC, IP, and protocol-based VLANs on FortiSwitch are beneficial in network environments where additional granularity is needed in traffic segmentation and security, similar to what can be achieved through 802.1X authentication. These VLAN types allow for dynamic assignment of ports to VLANs based on the characteristics of the incoming traffic, enhancing both security and network efficiency.

The provided debug output indicates that the FortiSwitch is sending FortiLink heartbeats to the FortiGate and is currently waiting to join the stack group. Here's a breakdown of the relevant lines:

Line 1:Shows the date, time, elapsed time since boot, and process ID for the FortiLink event handler.

573s:160ms: 74ustranslates to roughly 573 seconds, 160 milliseconds, and 74 microseconds since uptime.

Event 101:This indicates the FortiSwitch is in a "wait join" state (FL_STATE_WAIT_JOIN). This means it's discovered by the FortiGate and is awaiting further instructions to join the FortiLink stack group.

switchname S424DPTF20000029:This displays the serial number of the FortiSwitch.

flags 0x401:The specific flag meaning might depend on the FortiSwitch model and version, but it likely indicates general communication between the switch and FortiGate.

Lines 2 and onward:These lines show subsequent events with similar timestamps, suggesting a regular heartbeat interval. There are also instances of the FortiSwitch sending packets to the FortiGate (indicated bypkt-sent).

Why the Other Options Are Less Likely:

C. FortiSwitch is discovered and authorized by FortiGate.While discovery might have happened before these lines, the "wait join" state suggests authorization hasn't necessarily completed yet.

D. FortiSwitch is ready to push its new hostname to FortiGate.There's no explicit indication of hostname changes in this excerpt. The focus is on joining the stack group.

In Summary:

The key point is the "FL_STATE_WAIT_JOIN" state, which signifies the FortiSwitch is ready to be fully integrated but is waiting for further commands from the FortiGate to complete the process.

Fortinet FortiLink Protocol:The FortiLink protocol is Fortinet's proprietary mechanism for managing FortiSwitch units from a FortiGate firewall. It simplifies configuration and security policy enforcement across the connected network devices.

Auto-Discovery:FortiLink's auto-discovery feature means that by default, all ports on a FortiSwitch will actively send out discovery frames. This allows them to locate a FortiGate device that has a FortiLink interface enabled, streamlining the device management process.

No Configuration Needed:You don't have to manually configure individual ports for FortiLink discovery on FortiSwitch devices.

References

FortiSwitchOS FortiLink Guide (FortiSwitch Devices Managed by FortiOS 7.2):Refer to pages 13 and 14 for details on zero-touch management and FortiLink configuration. [https://fortinetweb.s3.amazonaws.com/docs.fortinet.com/v2/attachments/27f63c72-b083-11ec-9fd1-fa163e15d75b/FortiSwitchOS-7.2.0-FortiLink_Guide%E2%80%94FortiSwitch_Devices_Managed_by_FortiOS_7.2.pdf ]

Location (C): FortiSwitch uses LLDP-MED (Link Layer Discovery Protocol - Media Endpoint Discovery) to advertise various attributes to IP phones, among which "Location" is crucial in emergency situations. This information helps emergency responders to determine the physical location of the calling device, which is vital for prompt response in critical situations.

The 'by VLAN redirect MAC address quarantine' mode and the 'by redirect MAC address quarantine' mode on FortiGate share specific similarities:

Quarantine VLAN Assignment (A):

Common Feature:Both modes utilize a designated quarantine VLAN to isolate quarantined devices. This helps in mitigating the risk of spreading potential security threats within the network.

Operational Impact:Moving devices to a specific quarantine VLAN restricts their network access, effectively isolating them until further action or remediation is taken.

The FortiLink authorization process is an integral part of setting up FortiSwitch to be managed by FortiGate. The correct statements regarding the FortiLink authorization process are:

C.A FortiLink frame is sent by FortiGate to FortiSwitch to complete the authorization.This is a part of the FortiLink protocol, where FortiGate communicates with the connected FortiSwitch to establish management and control. This frameinitiates the configuration and management process, allowing FortiGate to effectively control the switch.

D.FortiLink authorization sets the FortiSwitch management mode to FortiLink.Once authorized, the management mode of FortiSwitch is set to FortiLink, indicating that it is being managed via a FortiLink connection from a FortiGate appliance. This changes the operational mode of the switch to be under the control of the FortiGate for centralized management and policy application.

References:

Further details on the FortiLink setup and authorization process can be accessed through the FortiGate configuration guides available on theFortinet Documentation site.

When FortiGate exports configuration settings to a managed FortiSwitch stack with sampling mode set to "perimeter is true," the behavior is:

B. FortiGate configures FortiSwitch to perform ingress sampling on all switch interfaces, except ICL and ISL interfaces.This setting ensures that all incoming traffic on normal operational ports is sampled for monitoring and analysis purposes, but it excludes the inter-chassis link (ICL) and inter-switch link (ISL) interfaces from sampling. These exclusions are typically made to prevent the duplication of sampled data and to reduce unnecessary load on the monitoring system, as these links often carry traffic already monitored at other points.

Options A and D are incorrect because they either generalize the sampling across all interfaces without exceptions or incorrectly specify egress sampling on management interfaces. Option C is also incorrect as FortiGate can modify existing sampling settings to fit the perimeter-based configuration requirement.

"MSTP is based on RSTP", so the same port role election and the same root bridge selection. Reference: FortiSwitch 7.2 Study Guide, page 187

"The tool is a Python script that converts the supported settings in a FortiSwitch standalone configuration file to the equivalent FortiOS settings for a managed switch." Reference: FortiSwitch 7.2 Study Guide, page 349