adding Switches to HA Pair

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adding Switches to HA Pair

L1 Bithead

I would like to add a 24-port switch to each Palo.  To maintain HA redundancy, I just have to run the HA Control across the switches right?  Does the Session Link have to go through the switches too? 

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Accepted Solutions

Cyber Elite
Cyber Elite

@rlambright,

I'm kind of confused on what you're asking. Adding a switch(es) behind your firewalls isn't a problem at all. You just need to make sure that you've configured everything so that the traffic can reach your firewall properly and ensure that your firewalls routing is setup properly as well. You don't need to do anything with the HA links if you're just adding a switch(es) behind the hardware. 

 

If you want to run your HA links through a switch that's also perfectly fine if you want to locate the devices in physical diverse areas that prevent direct connection. Depending on latency you might have to play around with HA timers, but that's really the only gotcha. 

You'd likely want to enable encryption on your control (HA1) links if these are directly connected for additional security if you choose to route these connections through the network. Also keep in mind that depending on the network, you'll want to set the data link (HA2) transport to Ethernet (layer2) or IP (layer3) depending on how your routing things. If you aren't running Layer3 I highly recommend separating this traffic to its own dedicated VLAN (one for HA1 and one for HA2). 

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2 REPLIES 2

Cyber Elite
Cyber Elite

@rlambright,

I'm kind of confused on what you're asking. Adding a switch(es) behind your firewalls isn't a problem at all. You just need to make sure that you've configured everything so that the traffic can reach your firewall properly and ensure that your firewalls routing is setup properly as well. You don't need to do anything with the HA links if you're just adding a switch(es) behind the hardware. 

 

If you want to run your HA links through a switch that's also perfectly fine if you want to locate the devices in physical diverse areas that prevent direct connection. Depending on latency you might have to play around with HA timers, but that's really the only gotcha. 

You'd likely want to enable encryption on your control (HA1) links if these are directly connected for additional security if you choose to route these connections through the network. Also keep in mind that depending on the network, you'll want to set the data link (HA2) transport to Ethernet (layer2) or IP (layer3) depending on how your routing things. If you aren't running Layer3 I highly recommend separating this traffic to its own dedicated VLAN (one for HA1 and one for HA2). 

Cyber Elite
Cyber Elite

Hello,

If you have a quick drawing, that could help us answer your questions.

 

Regards,

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