Manage Firebox Backup Images in WatchGuard Cloud

Applies To: Locally-managed Fireboxes

WatchGuard Cloud backup and restore features are available only for Fireboxes that run Fireware v12.5.2 or higher. FireClusters are not supported.

WatchGuard Cloud backup and restore features are not supported for cloud-managed Fireboxes. You can restore the configuration settings for a cloud-managed Firebox to a previous configuration version with the Revert Changes feature. For more information, see Revert to a Previous Device Deployment.

You can create a backup image of the current configuration on the Firebox. A backup image is a file that you can use to restore your Firebox to a previous state. A backup image is unique to a specific device and includes:

  • Configuration file
  • Certificates
  • Feature keys
  • Passphrases
  • DHCP leases
  • Mobile security device information (DIM) database
  • Event notification settings
  • Customer logo
  • Hotspot guest configuration files
  • Serial number
  • Platform and version information

In WatchGuard Cloud, you can see all backup images stored on the Firebox. The Firebox automatically creates a backup when firmware is upgraded from WatchGuard Cloud. Backup images you create from WatchGuard Cloud are stored on the Firebox. You can also restore a previously saved backup image and remove a backup image to increase available storage on the Firebox.

To see and manage Firebox backup images from WatchGuard Cloud:

  1. Select Configure > Devices.
  2. Select the Firebox.
  3. Click Backup.
    The Backup page opens.

Screen shot of the Backup page for a Firebox

Create a Backup

To make sure that you have a known good configuration available, create a backup of the current Firebox configuration. When you create a backup, the backup image file is stored on the Firebox as an .FXI file.

Make sure to keep a record of the IP address and passphrases for management user accounts for each backup image. If you restore a backup image, you must know this information to connect to the Firebox for management.

To create a backup image:

  1. On the Backup page, click Add Backup.
    The Add Backup dialog box opens.

Screen shot of the Add Backup dialog box

  1. In the Backup Name text box, type a new name, if required. The default file name consists of the name of the Firebox, followed by cloudbackup, the date and time of the backup and the firmware version. The file name can be up to 128 characters and must not include special characters (<>:”/\|?*).
  2. Click Add.
    Notifications open at the bottom of the page while the backup is in progress and when it completes. When the backup is complete, the backup image file is stored on the Firebox and a new row appears at the top of the table.

Restore a Firebox Backup Image

Restore is only available for backup image files created with Fireware v12.5.2 or higher. Backup images created with Fireware v12.5.1 or lower might be visible in WatchGuard Cloud, but you cannot restore them. FireClusters are not supported.

Cloud-managed Fireboxes are not supported. You can restore the configuration settings for a cloud-managed Firebox to a previous configuration version with the Revert Changes feature. For more information, see Revert to a Previous Device Deployment

You can restore a saved backup image to the Firebox. When you restore a backup, you replace the existing configuration with the configuration in the backup file. Because configuration settings vary by Fireware version, each backup image is compatible only with the version of Fireware OS it was saved from.

When you use WatchGuard Cloud to restore a backup, if the Fireware OS version of the backup file is different from the version installed on the Firebox, WatchGuard Cloud automatically upgrades or downgrades the OS on the Firebox to match the version in the backup image.

To restore a backup image:

  1. On the Backup page, click the name of the backup you want to restore.
    The Restore Backup dialog box opens.

Screen shot of the Restore Backup dialog box

  1. Click Restore.
  2. Click Close.
    A progress bar opens in the row while the restore is in progress. Notifications open at the bottom of the page while the restore is in progress and when it completes. The restore process can take a few minutes to complete.

If the IP address of the interface you use to manage the Firebox changes, you must use the IP address from the restored configuration to connect to the Firebox.

Remove a Backup Image

You can remove a backup file from the Firebox to increase available storage on the device. You cannot save a new backup image to the Firebox if the available storage space is less than 512 MB or less than 10% of the total storage capacity. You can see the available storage space on the Backup page.

Screen shot of the Backup page available storage

To remove a backup image from the Firebox:

  1. On the Backup page, in the row of the backup image you want to remove, click .
  2. Click Remove.
    The Remove Backup dialog box opens.

Screen shot of the Remove Backup dialog box

  1. Click Remove.

Related Topics

About WatchGuard Cloud Account Manager (Service Providers)

About WatchGuard Cloud Device Manager (Subscribers)

Reboot a Firebox

Upgrade Firmware in WatchGuard Cloud