Replace an RMA Firewall

To minimize the effort required to restore the configuration on a managed firewall involving a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA), replace the serial number of the old firewall with that of the new firewall on Panorama. To then restore the configuration on the replacement firewall, either import a firewall state that you previously generated and exported from the firewall or use Panorama to generate a partial device state for managed firewalls running PAN-OS 5.0 and later versions. By replacing the serial number and importing the firewall state, you can resume using Panorama to manage the firewall.

Partial Device State Generation for Firewalls Before Starting RMA Firewall Replacement Restore the Firewall Configuration after Replacement

Partial Device State Generation for Firewalls

When you use Panorama to generate a partial device state, it replicates the configuration of the managed firewalls with a few exceptions for Large Scale VPN (LSVPN) setups. You create the partial device state by combining two facets of the firewall configuration:

Centralized configuration that Panorama manages—Panorama maintains a snapshot of the shared policy rules and templates that it pushes to firewalls. Local configuration on the firewall—When you commit a configuration change on a firewall, it sends a copy of its local configuration file to Panorama. Panorama stores this file and uses it to compile the partial device state bundle.

In an LSVPN setup, the partial device state bundle that you generate on Panorama is not the same as the version that you export from a firewall (by selecting Device > Setup > Operations and clicking Export device state). If you manually ran the device state export or scheduled an XML API script to export the file to a remote server, you can use the exported device state in your firewall replacement workflow.

If you did not export the device state, the device state that you generate in the replacement workflow will not include the dynamic configuration information, such as the certificate details and registered firewalls, that is required to restore the complete configuration of a firewall functioning as an LSVPN portal. See Before Starting RMA Firewall Replacement for more information.

Panorama does not store the device state; you generate it on request using the CLI commands listed in Restore the Firewall Configuration after Replacement.

Before Starting RMA Firewall Replacement

The firewall you will replace must have PAN-OS 5.0.4 or a later version. Panorama cannot generate the device state for firewalls running older PAN-OS versions. Record the following details about the firewall you will replace: Serial number —You must enter the serial number on the Palo Alto Networks Customer Support web site to transfer the licenses from the old firewall to the replacement firewall. You will also enter this information on Panorama, to replace all references to the old serial number with the new serial number of the replacement firewall. (Recommended) PAN-OS version and the content database version —Installing the same software and content database versions, including the URL database vendor, enables you to create the same state on the replacement firewall. If you decide to install the latest version of the content database, you might notice differences because of updates and additions to the database. To determine the versions installed on the firewall, access the firewall System logs stored on Panorama. Prepare the replacement firewall for deployment. Before you import the device state bundle and restore the configuration, you must: Verify that the replacement firewall is the same model as the old firewall and is enabled for similar operational capability. Consider the following operational features: must the replacement firewall have multiple virtual systems, support jumbo frames support, or operate in CC or FIPS mode? Configure network access, transfer the licenses, and install the appropriate PAN-OS and content database versions. You must use the Panorama CLI to complete this firewall replacement process, and therefore your administrator account must have the superuser or panorama-admin user role. If you have an LSVPN configuration, and are replacing a Palo Alto Networks firewall deployed as a satellite or as an LSVPN portal, the dynamic configuration information that is required to restore LSVPN connectivity will not be available when you restore the partial device state generated on Panorama. If you followed the recommendation to frequently generate and export the device state for firewalls in an LSVPN configuration, use the device state that you previously exported from the firewall itself instead of generating one on Panorama.

If you have not manually exported the device state from the firewall, and need to generate a partial device state on Panorama, the missing dynamic configuration impacts the firewall replacement process as follows:

If the firewall you are replacing is a GlobalProtect portal that is explicitly configured with the serial number of the satellites ( Network > GlobalProtect > Portals > Satellite Configuration), when restoring the firewall configuration, although the dynamic configuration is lost, the portal firewall will be able to authenticate the satellites successfully. The successful authentication will populate the dynamic configuration information and LSVPN connectivity will be reinstated. If you are replacing a satellite firewall , it will not be able to connect and authenticate to the portal. This failure occurs either because the serial number was not explicitly configured on the firewall ( Network > GlobalProtect > Portals > Satellite Configuration) or, if the serial number was explicitly configured, because the serial number of the replaced firewall does not match that of the old firewall. To restore connectivity after importing the device state bundle, the satellite administrator must log in to the firewall and enter the credentials (username and password) for authenticating to the portal. After authentication, the dynamic configuration required for LSVPN connectivity is generated on the portal.

However, if the firewall was configured in a high availability configuration, after restoring the configuration, the firewall will automatically synchronize the running configuration with its peer and attain the latest dynamic configuration required to function seamlessly.

Restore the Firewall Configuration after Replacement

To restore the firewall configuration on the new firewall, you will first perform initial configuration on the new firewall, including setting the operational mode, upgrading the PAN-OS software and content release version to match what was installed on the old firewall. You will then export the device state of the old firewall from Panorama and import it onto the new firewall. Finally, you will go back to Panorama to validate that the new firewall has connected and then sync it with Panorama.

Restore the Firewall Configuration after Replacement
Perform initial configuration on the new firewall and verify network connectivity.	Use a serial port connection or a Secure Shell (SSH) connection to add an IP address, a DNS server IP address, and to verify that the new firewall can access the Palo Alto Networks updates server.
( Optional ) Set the Operational mode on the new firewall to match that on the old firewall. A serial port connection is required for this task.	Enter the following CLI command to access maintenance mode on the firewall: > debug system maintenance-mode For Operational mode, select Set FIPS Mode or Set CCEAL 4 Mode from the main menu.
Retrieve the license(s) on the new firewall.	Enter the following command to retrieve the licenses: > request license fetch
( Optional ) Match the operational state of the new firewall with that of the old firewall. For example, enable multi-virtual system (multi-vsys) capability for a firewall that was enabled for multi-vsys capability.	Enter the commands that pertain to your firewall settings: > set system setting multi-vsys on > set system setting jumbo-frame on
Upgrade the PAN-OS version on the new firewall. You must upgrade to the same PAN-OS installed on the old firewall. You must upgrade the content release versions to the same or later version that is installed on the old firewall.	Enter the following commands: To upgrade the content release version: > request content upgrade download latest > request content upgrade install version latest To upgrade the PAN-OS software version: > request system software download version < version > > request system software install version < version >
Go to the Panorama CLI and export the device state bundle from the old firewall to a computer using Secure Copy (SCP) or TFTP (you cannot do this from the web interface). If you manually exported the device state from the firewall, you can skip this step. The export command generates the device state bundle as a tar zipped file and exports it to the specified location. This device state will not include the LSVPN dynamic configuration (satellite information and certificate details).	Enter one of the following commands: > scp export device-state device < old serial# > to < login > @ <serverIP>: <path> or > tftp export device-state device < old serial# > to < login > @ < serverIP >: < path >
Replace the serial number of the old firewall with that of the new replacement firewall on Panorama. By replacing the serial number on Panorama you allow the new firewall to connect to Panorama after you restore the configuration on the firewall.	Enter the following command in Operational mode: > replace device old < old SN# > new < new SN# > Enter Configuration mode and commit your changes. > configure # commit Exit Configuration mode. # exit
On the new firewall, import the device state and commit the changes.	Access the web interface of the new firewall. Select Device > Setup > Operations and click the Import Device State link in the Configuration Management section. Browse to locate the file and click OK. Click Commit to save you changes to the running configuration on the firewall.
From Panorama, verify that you successfully restored the firewall configuration.	Access the Panorama web interface and select Panorama > Managed Devices. Verify that the Connected column for the new firewall has a check mark.
Synchronize the firewall with Panorama.	From Panorama, click Commit, set the Commit Type to Device Group, select the device group that contains the firewall, select the Include Device and Network Template check box, and click Commit again. ( M-Series only ) If your firewalls forward logs to Log Collectors, click Commit, set the Commit Type to Collector Group, select the Collector Group that contains the firewall, and click Commit again. If you need to generate reports for a period when the old firewall was still functional after you installed the new firewall, you must generate a separate query for each firewall serial number because replacing the serial number on Panorama does not overwrite the information in logs.

Document:Panorama™ Administrator’s Guide

Replace an RMA Firewall

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