How does FortiGate compare checksums during HA configuration synchronization?

The correct answer highlights that FortiGate checksums by comparing configuration files during High Availability (HA) configuration synchronization. In an HA setup, ensuring that the configurations on both the primary and secondary devices are identical is crucial for maintaining consistent behavior across the network.

When the primary device sends configuration changes to the secondary unit, FortiGate uses checksums to verify that the configurations match. This process involves generating a checksum based on the entire configuration file and comparing it to the checksum generated on the secondary device. If the checksums match, it confirms that the configurations are synchronized and consistent. If they do not match, further investigation is warranted to identify discrepancies.

Other options, while related to device management, do not play a role in the checksum process during synchronization. For example, firmware version analysis, while important for compatibility, does not address configuration alignment specifically. Similarly, device performance metrics and logs of configuration changes provide valuable operational insights but are not directly involved in the checksum validation process during HA synchronization.