Assigning an IP address to the heartbeat interface on a FortiGate device is not recommended as it can cause disruptions in the High Availability (HA) functions by introducing regular network traffic to a communication path meant only for HA operation.
In a FortiGate High Availability (HA) configuration, it is not recommended to assign an IP address to the heartbeat interface. The heartbeat interface is intended for HA communication only and assigning an IP could lead to potential issues, such as unintended traffic routing through this interface which could disrupt the HA process.
Assigning an IP to the heartbeat interface on a FortiGate device is generally not advisable as it can interfere with High Availability operations.
Within a network security infrastructure, FortiGate devices commonly use a heartbeat interface dedicated for High Availability synchronization and failover. This interface is designed to facilitate a continuous exchange of status information between units in a HA configuration. Allocating an IP address to it can potentially open up the interface to regular network traffic, which can disrupt the critical HA functions. Standard practice is to reserve the interface purely for HA communication, avoiding any assignment of IP addresses to maintain its integrity and functionality. Network administrators should configure HA settings according to best practices to ensure the highest level of system resilience and reliability.
The best practice is to keep the heartbeat interface reserved strictly for HA communication, unencumbered by a regular IP address, to ensure the proper operation of FortiGate's High Availability features and maintain optimal network performance.