A FortiManager backup file (.dat) is designed to save the essential configuration data required to restore the system's operational state. This includes the FortiManager's own system settings, such as network interfaces, administrator accounts, and logging configurations (often referred to as the flash configuration). Crucially, it also contains the entire database of managed devices, including their configurations, policies, and objects. Items that are large, dynamic, or easily re-downloaded, such as firmware images and the FortiGuard database, are intentionally excluded to ensure the backup process is efficient and the file size is manageable.

B. Firmware images: Firmware images are explicitly excluded from the backup. They must be manually re-imported to the FortiManager appliance after a system restore.

C. FortiGuard database: The FortiGuard database is dynamic data downloaded from Fortinet's services. It is not included in the backup and is re-downloaded after a restore.

1. Fortinet FortiManager Administration Guide 7.4.0

System Settings > Backup and Restore > Backing up the configuration

Page 138: "The backup file is a .dat file that contains the FortiManager configuration

including the device list

and device configuration. The backup file does not include firmware images saved on the FortiManager unit

the FortiGuard database

or logs." This reference directly confirms that device configurations (A) and the FortiManager's own configuration (D) are included

while explicitly stating that firmware images (B) and the FortiGuard database (C) are not.