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    Reference: HA Synchronization
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    Next-Generation Firewall

    Reference: HA Synchronization

    Table of Contents

    Reference: HA Synchronization

    Learn the facts about HA synchronization between Palo Alto Networks NGFWs.
    Where Can I Use This?What Do I Need?
    • NGFW (Managed by Strata Cloud Manager)
    • NGFW (Managed by PAN-OS or Panorama)
    For Strata Cloud Manager managed NGFWs:
    • Strata Cloud Manager Pro
    If you have enabled configuration synchronization on both peers in an HA pair, most of the configuration settings you configure on one peer will automatically sync to the other peer upon commit. To avoid configuration conflicts, always make configuration changes on the active (active/passive) or active-primary (active/active) peer and wait for the changes to sync to the peer before making any additional configuration changes.
    Only committed configurations synchronize between HA peers. Any configuration in the commit queue at the time of an HA sync won't be synchronized.

    What Doesn't Sync in Active/Passive HA?

    The following table identifies which configuration settings don't synchronize in active/passive HA. You must configure the settings on each firewall in the HA pair; the settings do not sync from one peer to another.
    Configuration Item
    What Doesn’t Sync in Active/Passive?
    Management Interface Settings
    All management configuration settings must be configured individually on each firewall, including:
    • DeviceSetupManagementGeneral Settings—Hostname, Domain, Login Banner, SSL/TLS Service Profile (and associated certificates), Time Zone, Locale, Date, Time, Latitude, Longitude.
    • DeviceSetupManagementManagement Interface Settings—IP Type, IP Address, Netmask, Default Gateway, IPv6 Address/Prefix Length, Default IPv6 Gateway, Speed, MTU, and Services (HTTP, HTTP OCSP, HTTPS, Telnet, SSH, Ping, SNMP, User-ID, User-ID Syslog Listener-SSL, User-ID Syslog Listener-UDP)
    Multi-vsys Capability
    You must activate the Virtual Systems license on each firewall in the pair to increase the number of virtual systems beyond the base number provided by default on PA-400 Series, PA-3200 Series, PA-3400 Series, PA-5200 Series, PA-5400 Series, and PA-7000 Series firewalls.
    You must also enable Multi Virtual System Capability on each firewall (DeviceSetupManagementGeneral Settings).
    SNMP
    DeviceSetupOperationsSNMP Setup
    Services
    DeviceSetupServices
    Global Service Routes
    DeviceSetupServicesService Route Configuration
    Data Protection
    DeviceSetupContent-IDManage Data Protection
    Jumbo Frames
    DeviceSetupSessionSession SettingsEnable Jumbo Frame
    Packet Buffer Protection
    DeviceSetupSessionSession SettingsPacket Buffer Protection
    NetworkZonesEnable Packet Buffer Protection
    Forward Proxy Server Certificate Settings
    DeviceSetupSessionDecryption SettingsSSL Forward Proxy Settings
    Master Key Secured by HSM
    DeviceSetupHSMHardware Security Module ProviderMaster Key Secured by HSM
    Log Export Settings
    DeviceScheduled Log Export
    Software Updates
    With software updates, you can either download and install them separately on each firewall, or download them on one peer and sync the update to the other peer. You must install the update on each peer (DeviceSoftware).
    GlobalProtect Agent Package
    With GlobalProtect app updates, you can either download and install them separately on each firewall, or download them to one peer and sync the update to the other peer. You must activate separately on each peer (DeviceGlobalProtect Client).
    Content Updates
    With content updates, you can either download and install them separately on each firewall, or download them on one peer and sync the update to the other peer. You must install the update on each peer (DeviceDynamic Updates).
    Licenses/Subscriptions
    DeviceLicenses
    Support Subscription
    DeviceSupport
    Master Key
    The master key must be identical on each firewall in the HA pair, but you must manually enter it on each firewall (DeviceMaster Key and Diagnostics).
    Before changing the master key, you must disable config sync on both peers (DeviceHigh AvailabilityGeneralSetup and clear the Enable Config Sync check box) and then re-enable it after you change the keys.
    Reports, logs, and Dashboard Settings
    Log data, reports, and Dashboard data and settings (column display, widgets) are not synced between peers. Report configuration settings, however, are synced.
    • Panorama supports log forwarding for User-ID logs from active firewalls only. It does not support log forwarding for User-ID logs from passive firewalls.
    • Panorama supports log forwarding for IP-tag logs from both active and passive firewalls.
    • If you have an active/passive configuration and you search the User-ID logs using Panorama for a specific IP address, Panorama displays the mappings from the active firewall. You can use the show user ip-user-mapping ip <ip-address> CLI command (where <ip-address> is the IP address) to confirm the mapping exists on both firewalls.
    • If you have an active/passive configuration and you search the IP-Tag logs on the same configuration for an IP address, Panorama displays a record for the mappings from both firewalls with the Source Type for the active firewall as xml-api and the Source Type for the passive firewall as ha.
    HA settings
    DeviceHigh Availability
    DecryptionAfter a failover, firewalls do not support HA sync for decrypted SSL sessions.
    Rule Usage Data
    Rule usage data, such as hit count, Created, and Modified Dates, are not synced between peers. You need to log in to the each firewall to view the policy rule hit count data for each firewall or use Panorama to view information on the HA firewall peers.
    Certificates for Device Management and Syslog Communication over SSL only
    DeviceCertificate ManagementCertificates
    Certificates used for device management or for syslog communication over SSL don’t synchronize with an HA peer.
    Although the certificates used for the management interface are not synchronized (and can be different), the name of the certificate entry should be the same for the active and passive devices.
    Certificates in a Certificate Profile
    DeviceCertificate ManagementCertificate Profile
    SSL/TLS Service Profile for Device Management only
    DeviceCertificate ManagementSSL/TLS Service Profile
    SSL/TLS Service Profile for Device Management doesn’t synchronize with an HA peer.
    Device-ID and IoT Security
    IP address-to-device mappings and policy rule recommendations don’t synchronize with an HA peer.

    What Doesn't Sync in Active/Active HA?

    The following table identifies which configuration settings don't synchronize in active/active HA. You must configure the settings on each firewall in the HA pair; the settings do not sync from one peer to another.
    Configuration Item
    What Doesn’t Sync in Active/Active?
    Management Interface Settings
    You must configure all management settings individually on each firewall, including:
    • DeviceSetupManagementGeneral Settings—Hostname, Domain, Login Banner, SSL/TLS Service Profile (and associated certificates), Time Zone, Locale, Date, Time, Latitude, Longitude.
    • DeviceSetupManagementManagement Interface Settings—IP Address, Netmask, Default Gateway, IPv6 Address/Prefix Length, Default IPv6 Gateway, Speed, MTU, and Services (HTTP, HTTP OCSP, HTTPS, Telnet, SSH, Ping, SNMP, User-ID, User-ID Syslog Listener-SSL, User-ID Syslog Listener-UDP)
    Multi-vsys Capability
    You must activate the Virtual Systems license on each firewall in the pair to increase the number of virtual systems beyond the base number provided by default on PA-400 Series, PA-3200 Series, PA-3400 Series, PA-5200 Series, PA-5400 Series, and PA-7000 Series firewalls.
    You must also enable Multi Virtual System Capability on each firewall (DeviceSetupManagementGeneral Settings).
    SNMP
    DeviceSetupOperationsSNMP Setup
    Services
    DeviceSetupServices
    Global Service Routes
    DeviceSetupServicesService Route Configuration
    Telemetry and Threat Intelligence Settings
    DeviceSetupTelemetry and Threat Intelligence
    Data Protection
    DeviceSetupContent-IDManage Data Protection
    Jumbo Frames
    DeviceSetupSessionSession SettingsEnable Jumbo Frame
    Packet Buffer Protection
    DeviceSetupSessionSession SettingsPacket Buffer Protection
    NetworkZonesEnable Packet Buffer Protection
    Forward Proxy Server Certificate Settings
    DeviceSetupSessionDecryption SettingsSSL Forward Proxy Settings
    HSM Configuration
    DeviceSetupHSM
    Log Export Settings
    DeviceScheduled Log Export
    Software Updates
    With software updates, you can either download and install them separately on each firewall, or download them on one peer and sync the update to the other peer. You must install the update on each peer (DeviceSoftware).
    GlobalProtect Agent Package
    With GlobalProtect app updates, you can either download and install them separately on each firewall, or download them to one peer and sync the update to the other peer. You must activate separately on each peer (DeviceGlobalProtect Client).
    Content Updates
    With content updates, you can either download and install them separately on each firewall, or download them on one peer and sync the update to the other peer. You must install the update on each peer (DeviceDynamic Updates).
    Licenses/Subscriptions
    DeviceLicenses
    Support Subscription
    DeviceSupport
    Ethernet Interface IP Addresses
    All Ethernet interface configuration settings sync except for the IP address (NetworkInterfaceEthernet).
    Loopback Interface IP Addresses
    All Loopback interface configuration settings sync except for the IP address (NetworkInterfaceLoopback).
    Tunnel Interface IP Addresses
    All Tunnel interface configuration settings sync except for the IP address (NetworkInterfaceTunnel).
    LACP System Priority
    Each peer must have a unique LACP System ID in an active/active deployment (NetworkInterfaceEthernetAdd Aggregate GroupSystem Priority).
    VLAN Interface IP Address
    All VLAN interface configuration settings sync except for the IP address (NetworkInterfaceVLAN).
    Virtual Routers
    Virtual router configuration synchronizes only if you have enabled VR Sync (DeviceHigh AvailabilityActive/Active ConfigPacket Forwarding). Whether or not to do this depends on your network design, including whether you have asymmetric routing.
    IPSec Tunnels
    IPSec tunnel configuration synchronization is dependent on whether you have configured the Virtual Addresses to use Floating IP addresses (DeviceHigh AvailabilityActive/Active ConfigVirtual Address). If you have configured a floating IP address, these settings sync automatically. Otherwise, you must configure these settings independently on each peer.
    GlobalProtect Portal Configuration
    GlobalProtect portal configuration synchronization is dependent on whether you have configured the Virtual Addresses to use Floating IP addresses (NetworkGlobalProtectPortals). If you have configured a floating IP address, the GlobalProtect portal configuration settings sync automatically. Otherwise, you must configure the portal settings independently on each peer.
    GlobalProtect Gateway Configuration
    GlobalProtect gateway configuration synchronization is dependent on whether you have configured the Virtual Addresses to use Floating IP addresses (NetworkGlobalProtectGateways). If you have configured a floating IP address, the GlobalProtect gateway configuration settings sync automatically. Otherwise, you must configure the gateway settings independently on each peer.
    QoS
    QoS configuration synchronizes only if you have enabled QoS Sync (DeviceHigh AvailabilityActive/Active ConfigPacket Forwarding). You might choose not to sync QoS setting if, for example, you have different bandwidth on each link or different latency through your service providers.
    LLDP
    No LLDP state or individual firewall data is synchronized in an active/active configuration (NetworkNetwork ProfilesLLDP).
    BFD
    No BFD configuration or BFD session data is synchronized in an active/active configuration (NetworkNetwork ProfilesBFD Profile).
    IKE Gateways
    IKE gateway configuration synchronization is dependent on whether you have configured the Virtual Addresses to use floating IP addresses (NetworkIKE Gateways). If you have configured a floating IP address, the IKE gateway configuration settings sync automatically. Otherwise, you must configure the IKE gateway settings independently on each peer.
    Master Key
    The master key must be identical on each firewall in the HA pair, but you must manually enter it on each firewall (DeviceMaster Key and Diagnostics).
    Before changing the master key, you must disable config sync on both peers (DeviceHigh AvailabilityGeneralSetup and clear the Enable Config Sync check box) and then re-enable it after you change the keys.
    Reports, logs, and Dashboard Settings
    Log data, reports, and dashboard data and settings (column display, widgets) are not synced between peers. Report configuration settings, however, are synced.
    HA settings
    • DeviceHigh Availability
    • (The exception is DeviceHigh AvailabilityActive/Active ConfigurationVirtual Addresses, which do sync.)
    DecryptionAfter a failover, firewalls do not support HA sync for decrypted SSL sessions.
    Rule Usage Data
    Rule usage data, such as hit count, Created, and Modified Dates, are not synced between peers. You need to log in to the each firewall to view the policy rule hit count data for each firewall or use Panorama to view information on the HA firewall peers.
    Certificates for Device Management and Syslog Communication over SSL only
    DeviceCertificate ManagementCertificates
    Certificates used for device management or for syslog communication over SSL don’t synchronize with an HA peer.
    Certificates in a Certificate Profile
    DeviceCertificate ManagementCertificate Profile
    SSL/TLS Service Profile for Device Management only
    DeviceCertificate ManagementSSL/TLS Service Profile
    SSL/TLS Service Profile for Device Management doesn’t synchronize with an HA peer.
    Device-ID and IoT Security
    IP address-to-device mappings and policy rule recommendations don’t synchronize with an HA peer.

    System Runtime Information Synchronized Between HA Peers

    The following table summarizes the system runtime information that is synchronized between HA peers.
    Runtime Information
    Information Synced?
    HA Link
    Details
    A/P
    A/A
    Management Plane
    User to Group Mappings
    Yes
    Yes
    HA1
    User Mappings across Virtual Systems
    Yes
    Yes
    HA1
    User to IP Address Mappings
    Yes
    Yes
    HA1
    In an A/A configuration, only the Active-Primary peer connects to User-ID Servers or Agents, and not the Active-Secondary peer. If the Active-Primary peer is Suspended or offline, the Active-Secondary peer connects to the User-ID Servers or Agents.
    DHCP Lease (as server)
    Yes
    Yes
    HA1
    If the PAN-OS versions on the HA peers don’t match, the DHCP Lease (as server) config information won’t sync.
    DNS Cache
    No
    No
    N/A
    FQDN Refresh
    No
    No
    N/A
    IKE SAs [Security Associations] (phase 1)
    No
    No
    N/A
    Forward Information Base (FIB)
    Yes
    No
    HA1
    Multicast FIB (MFIB)
    Yes
    No
    HA1
    PAN-DB URL Cache
    Yes
    No
    HA1
    This is synchronized upon database backup to disk (every eight hours, when URL database version updates), or when the firewall reboots.
    Content (manual sync)
    Yes
    Yes
    HA1
    PPPoE, PPPoE Lease
    Yes
    Yes
    HA1
    DHCP Client Settings and Lease
    Yes
    Yes
    HA1
    If the PAN-OS versions on the HA peers don’t match, the DHCP Client Settings and Lease config information won’t sync.
    SSL VPN Logged in User List
    Yes
    Yes
    HA1
    Dataplane
    Session Table
    Yes
    Yes
    HA2
    • Active/passive peers do not sync ICMP or host session information.
    • Active/active peers do not sync host session, multicast session, or BFD session information.
      A host session is a session terminated on one of the firewall interfaces, such as an ICMP session pinging one of the firewall interfaces or a GP tunnel.
    ARP Table
    Yes
    No
    HA2
    Multicast Session Table
    Yes
    No
    HA2
    Neighbor Discovery (ND) Table
    Yes
    No
    HA2
    MAC Table
    Yes
    No
    HA2
    IPSec SAs [Security Associations] (phase 2)
    Yes
    Yes
    HA2
    IPSec Sequence Number (anti-replay)
    Yes
    Yes
    HA2
    DoS Block List Entries
    No
    No
    N/A
    Virtual MAC
    Yes
    Yes
    HA2
    SCTP Associations
    Yes
    No
    HA2

    CLI Commands for HA Synchronization

    You can use the following CLI operational command and options to synchronize HA peers:
    username@hostname>request high-availability sync-to-remote
>candidate-config     Sync candidate configuration to peer
>clock                Sync the local time and date to the peer
>id-manager           id-manager
>running-config       Sync running configuration to peer
>ssh-key              Sync ha ssh key to peer
    A configuration pushed from Panorama isn't synchronized between firewalls. If you use Panorama to manage firewalls, you could decide, for example, to use the no form of the following CLI configuration command to disable configuration synchronization on the firewalls: 
    username@hostname#set deviceconfig high-availability group configuration-synchronization enabled
no    no
yes   yes
    Use the no form of the following CLI configuration command to disable state (session) synchronization on the firewalls:
    username@hostname#set deviceconfig high-availability group state-synchronization enabled
no    no
yes   yes

    Reasons That Synchronization Doesn't Happen

    Sessions won't synchronize for the following reasons:
    • If you disable session (state) synchronization.
    • If the HA2 link or connection is down.
    The HA configurations won't synchronize for the following reasons:
    • If you disabled configuration synchronization on either HA peer.
    • If the PAN-OS versions are incompatible on HA peers.
    • If configurations on HA peers are not already synchronized.
    • If Multi Virtual System Capability is enabled on one HA peer and not the other.
    • If GTP is enabled on one HA peer and not the other.
    • If SCTP is enabled on one HA peer and not the other.
    • If VPN is enabled on one HA peer and not the other.
    • If the same features aren't enabled on both HA peers.
    • If the dataplane and slots aren't ready on an HA peer.
    • If the URL databases are incompatible on the HA peers.
    • If the licenses aren't the same on the HA peers.
    • Additionally, a plugin mismatch might (not always) prevent configurations from synchronizing.

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