Add a Cloud-Managed FireCluster
Applies To: Cloud-managed Fireboxes
You can add and manage an active/passive FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud. For more information about FireCluster, go to About FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud.
To add a cloud-managed FireCluster, use one of these methods:
- Add a New Cloud-Managed FireCluster — Add two Fireboxes with factory-default settings as a cloud-managed FireCluster. Note that you cannot change a cloud-managed Firebox to a cloud-managed FireCluster member directly. For more information, go to Change a Cloud-managed Firebox to a Cloud-managed FireCluster Member.
- Change a Locally-Managed FireCluster to Cloud Management — Change an existing locally-managed active/passive FireCluster to cloud management. After you change the FireCluster to cloud management, you can only manage the FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud.
Before You Begin
Before you add a cloud-managed FireCluster, learn about requirements and plan your configuration. For information about FireCluster requirements, go to Before You Configure a Cloud-Managed FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud.
Add a New Cloud-Managed FireCluster
If you have two Fireboxes that you have not yet configured as a FireCluster, use the method described in this section. Both Fireboxes must have factory-default settings.
Add the FireCluster
- Reset both Fireboxes to factory-default settings. For more information, go to Reset a Firebox.
- Log in to your WatchGuard Cloud Subscriber account.
- Select Configure > Devices.
- Click Add Device.
A list of activated devices appears. If the list does not include your devices, review the requirements in Before You Configure a Cloud-Managed FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud.
- Click Add FireCluster.
The selection page for the first FireCluster member opens.
- To add the first FireCluster member, click a Firebox name.
The selection page for the second FireCluster member opens.
- To add the second FireCluster member, do one of the following:
- Enter the serial number of the second FireCluster member and click Add.
- From the list of devices, click a Firebox name.
Selected FireCluster members appear next to the device list.
- Click Add FireCluster.
A confirmation page opens.
- From the FireCluster Management drop-down list, click Cloud Management.
- Click Next.
- Enter the FireCluster Name.
- Enter the Member1 Name.
- Enter the Member2 Name.
- Select a Time Zone. The time zone settings control the date and time that appear in the log messages and reports for your FireCluster.
- Select the device folder for your Firebox. Device Folders help you to see status and summary data for device groups.
If you only have one root folder, the folder list does not appear. - Click Next.
- From the Cluster Interface drop-down list, select an interface.
Cluster members use this dedicated interface to exchange heartbeat packets and to synchronize connection and session information. - In the Member1 Cluster IP Address and Member2 Cluster IP Address text boxes, enter an IP address that is not in use on your network.
To avoid conflicts with routable IP addresses, we recommend APIPA addresses or IP addresses from a dedicated private subnet. - In the Cluster ID text box, enter a number between 1 and 255. The default cluster ID is 50.
The Cluster ID determines the virtual MAC (VMAC) addresses that cluster member interfaces use. If you add a second FireCluster to the same subnet, enter a Cluster ID that is different enough from the Cluster ID of the first FireCluster to avoid a virtual MAC address conflict. For information about how the VMAC address is calculated, go to Active/Passive Cluster ID and the Virtual MAC Address.
- (Optional) To add redundancy, select Assign Backup Cluster Interface. The FireCluster uses the backup cluster interface if the primary cluster interface fails. We recommend this option for FireCluster configurations without a direct cable connection between cluster members. For more information about this setting, go to Before You Configure a Cloud-Managed FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud.
- From the Backup Cluster Interface drop-down list, select an interface.
- In the Member1 Cluster Backup IP Address and Member2 Cluster Backup IP Address text boxes, enter an IP address that is not in use on your network. To avoid conflicts with routable IP addresses, we recommend APIPA addresses or IP addresses from a dedicated private subnet.
The primary and backup cluster interfaces must be on different subnets. We recommend that you do not use a switch between each member for the cluster interfaces. If you do use a switch between cluster interfaces, the cluster interfaces must be logically separated from each other on different VLANs. We recommend that you configure a backup cluster interface if you separate the cluster interfaces with a switch.
- Click Next.
- From the IP Address Configuration drop-down list, select Static, DHCP, or PPPoE.
- If you selected Static:
- In the IP Address text box, enter an IP address for the external interface.
- In the Gateway text box, enter an IP address for the gateway.
- In the Public DNS Server text box, enter the IP address of a public DNS server for name resolution.
- If you selected DHCP or PPPoE:
- Select Obtain an IP address automatically or Use this IP address.
- Enter the Client Name.
- Enter the Host Name.
- If you selected Use this IP address, enter an IP address.
- Click Next.
- Enter the Internal Network IP Address.
- (Optional) Select Enable DHCP server on Internal Network.
- Enter a Starting IP Address.
- Enter an Ending IP Address.
- In the Member1 Communication IP Address text box, type an IP address that is on the same subnet as your internal network. Your Dimension or syslog server must also be on this network.
- In the Member2 Communication IP Address text box, type an IP address that is on the same subnet as your internal network. Your Dimension or syslog server must also be on this network.
- Click Next.
- (Optional) If your Firebox is a wireless model, on the Configure Wireless Settings page, you can enable these options:
- Enable Wireless — If you enable this option, enter the SSID and Passphrase for your internal wireless network.
- Enable Guest Wireless — If you enable this option, enter the SSID and Passphrase for your guest wireless network.
- Enter a Status Password.
- Enter an Admin Password. This password must be different than the status password.
- To complete the configuration and change to cloud management, click OK.
The configuration change deploys automatically.
If you selected the static IP address option, before you click Done:
- Follow the instructions on the Connect Your FireCluster page.
- To use a USB drive, you must click Download the connection settings file on the Connect Your FireCluster page now. You cannot return to this page later.
Complete the Cable Connections
For information about cabling and network topology, go to Connect the Hardware for a Cloud-Managed FireCluster.
Verify the Connection to WatchGuard Cloud
After you complete the cable configuration, verify the FireCluster connection to WatchGuard Cloud. For more information, go to the Device Summary page.
Only the cluster master connects to WatchGuard Cloud. The status of the cluster master is Connected. The status of the backup master is Never Connected or Not Connected.
Change a Locally-Managed FireCluster to Cloud Management
If you previously added a locally-managed FireCluster to WatchGuard Cloud for visibility, you can change the FireCluster to cloud management.
After you change the management type and deploy the change, the cloud-managed configuration replaces the locally-managed configuration on the Firebox. You can no longer locally manage the FireCluster in WatchGuard System Manager or Fireware Web UI.
- Sign in to your WatchGuard Cloud Subscriber account.
For Service Provider operators, from Account Manager, select My Account. - Select Configure > Devices.
- Select the FireCluster.
The Device Settings page opens. - In the Cloud Management section, click Change to Cloud Management.
The Add Device wizard opens. - (Optional) Edit the FireCluster Name.
- (Optional) Edit the Member1 Name.
- (Optional) Edit the Member2 Name.
- (Optional) Edit the Time Zone.
- Click Next.
- From the Cluster Interface drop-down list, select an interface.
Cluster members use this dedicated interface to exchange heartbeat packets, and to synchronize connection and session information. - In the Member1 Cluster IP Address and Member2 Cluster IP Address text boxes, enter an IP address that is not in use on your network.
To avoid conflicts with routable IP addresses, we recommend APIPA addresses or IP addresses from a dedicated private subnet. - In the Cluster ID text box, enter a number between 1 and 255.
The Cluster ID determines the virtual MAC (VMAC) addresses used by the interfaces of the clustered devices. If you add a second FireCluster to the same subnet, set the Cluster ID to a number that is different enough from the Cluster ID of the first FireCluster to avoid a virtual MAC address conflict. For information on how the VMAC address is calculated, go to Active/Passive Cluster ID and the Virtual MAC Address.
- (Optional) To add redundancy, select Assign Backup Cluster Interface. The FireCluster uses the backup cluster interface if the primary cluster interface fails. We recommend this option for FireCluster configurations without a direct cable connection between cluster members. For more information about this setting, go to Before You Configure a Cloud-Managed FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud.
- From the Backup Cluster Interface drop-down list, select an interface.
- In the Member1 Cluster Backup IP Address and Member2 Cluster Backup IP Address text boxes, enter an IP address that is not in use on your network. To avoid conflicts with routable IP addresses, we recommend APIPA addresses or IP addresses from a dedicated private subnet.
The primary and backup cluster interfaces must be on different subnets. We recommend that you do not use a switch between each member for the cluster interfaces. If you do use a switch between cluster interfaces, the cluster interfaces must be logically separated from each other on different VLANs. We recommend that you configure a backup cluster interface if you separate the cluster interfaces with a switch.
- Click Next.
- (Optional) Edit the IP Address Configuration. From the drop-down list, select Static, DHCP, or PPPoE.
- In the IP Address text box, enter an IP address for the external interface.
- In the Gateway text box, enter an IP address for the gateway.
- In the Public DNS Server text box, enter the IP address of a public DNS server for name resolution.
- Click Next.
- (Optional) Edit the Internal Network IP Address.
- (Optional) Select Enable DHCP server on Internal Network.
- Enter a Starting IP Address.
- Enter an Ending IP Address.
- In the Member1 Communication IP Address text box, type an IP address that is on the same subnet as your internal network. Your Dimension or syslog server must also be on this network.
- In the Member2 Communication IP Address text box, type an IP address that is on the same subnet as your internal network. Your Dimension or syslog server must also be on this network.
- Click Next.
- (Optional) If your Firebox is a wireless model, on the Configure Wireless Settings page, you can enable these options:
- Enable Wireless — If you enable this option, enter the SSID and Passphrase for your internal wireless network.
- Enable Guest Wireless — If you enable this option, enter the SSID and Passphrase for your guest wireless network.
- Enter a Status Password.
- Enter an Admin Password. This password must be different than the status password.
- To complete the configuration and change to cloud management, click OK.
The confirmation page appears.
- Click Done.
After you deploy the configuration change, the cloud-managed configuration replaces the locally-managed configuration on the Firebox. You can no longer locally manage the FireCluster in WatchGuard System Manager, Fireware Web UI, or CLI.
- Schedule a deployment.
For more information, go to Manage Device Configuration Deployment. - To verify the FireCluster connection to WatchGuard Cloud, go to the Device Summary page.
Only the cluster master connects to WatchGuard Cloud.
- The status of the cluster master is Connected.
- The status of the backup master is Never Connected (has not yet connected to WatchGuard Cloud for the first time), or Not Connected (is not currently connected to WatchGuard Cloud).
Change a Cloud-managed Firebox to a Cloud-managed FireCluster Member
To change a single cloud-managed Firebox to a cloud-managed FireCluster member, you must:
- Remove the device from cloud management so that it is locally managed. For more information, go to Change the FireCluster Management Type.
- Configure a locally-managed cluster. For more information, go to Configure FireCluster with the Setup Wizard.
- Add the FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud as a locally-managed cluster with visibility, and then change the FireCluster to cloud management. For more information, go to Change the FireCluster Management Type.
Caution: The deployment history of a cloud-managed Firebox is no longer available after you add the device to a cloud-managed FireCluster. This means that when you complete the configuration of a cloud-managed FireCluster, you cannot revert to earlier deployment versions of the cloud-managed Firebox.
Manage the FireCluster
After you add a cloud-managed FireCluster, you can:
- Edit the FireCluster Settings
- Upgrade the firmware
- Reboot cluster members
- Fail over a FireCluster
- Monitor FireClusters
- Troubleshoot a FireCluster
- Manage FireCluster Logging in WatchGuard Cloud
About FireCluster in WatchGuard Cloud
Change the FireCluster Management Type
Remove a FireCluster from WatchGuard Cloud
Configure an RMA Replacement for a Cloud-Managed FireCluster Member