How to Create Gen 7 Settings File by Using the Online Migration Tool

04/30/2021 85 2674

DESCRIPTION:

The migration tool allows users to convert settings from an existing Gen 6 or Gen 6.5 firewall, enabling the creation of a new settings file that can be imported onto the target Gen 7 firewall.

Objective:

Some customers have noticed issues on a target firewall after directly importing a preference file from a different, platform, into a newly acquired firewall. This is rare and dependent on the configuration and settings on the existing firewall.

Historically some of these issues were related to:

• Going from a source firewall to a target firewall with fewer interfaces
• SFP module configuration
• Internal wireless interfaces
• WWAN configuration on USB port
• Gen6 Global BWM (this feature is completely redesigned in SonicOS 7.0)
• Internal switch limitations (i.e., portshield not allowed on certain ports in the new platform)

As an example, the newly released NSa 2700 with 3x10GB SFP ports, has one fewer port than its predecessor NSa 2650 which had 4x2.5GbE SFP ports.

By using the migration tool a network administrator can avoid the challenges mentioned above.

RESOLUTION:

NOTE: Support for migrating settings from Gen5 firewalls to new Gen7 firewalls will be available in the near future.

Steps to convert existing settings via the migration tool:

1. On the source SonicWall firewall, upgrade the firmware to the latest GR (General Release). For Gen6/6.5 firewalls, the latest GR is SonicOS 6.5.4.7.
2. Export and save settings from your existing Gen6/6.5 firewall on the local machine
3. Navigate to https://migratetool.global.sonicwall.com/or go to MySonicWall | Tools | Migration Tool.
   
   
   
   
4. Select the Product as SonicWall. Browse and upload your settings file.
   
   
   
   
5. Choose the Target Product (NSa 2700 in this example) from the Select Target Product list.
   
   
   
   
6. Assign interfaces on the target firewall. Map your existing interfaces to the preferred interfaces on NSa 2700. Click Next.
   
   
   
   
7. Select the target firmware version for the new settings file - In this example: 7.0.1. Select File to Export as SonicWall (EXP format). Save the file on your local machine.
   
   
   
   
8. Register the Gen 7 firewall, download the new firmware (currently 7.0.1) and upgrade the firmware.
9. Upload the newly created settings file into your NSa 2700.
   TIP: It is recommended to factory default the NSa 2700 before importing the configuration file (not required if the device is out of the box).
   
   
10. Check DNS settings (configure manually if necessary).
11. Reboot the firewall.