> Source: [sk185217](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk185217)

# sk185217 - ClusterXL Priority Change in SmartConsole Interrupts Gateway-to-Management Connections

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Solution ID | sk185217 |
| Date Created | 2026-08-13 |
| Last Modified | 2026-08-14 |
| Technical Level | General |
| Products | Security Gateway |
| Versions | R82 |
| OS | Gaia |

## Symptoms

- * After an administrator changes the cluster member priority in SmartConsole, connections from the active Security Gateway to the Security Management Server are interrupted.
* The interruption affects logging traffic on port 257.
* The behavior does not occur during an actual ClusterXL failover caused by Pnotes or when a cluster member stops responding.
* Duplicate packets appear on the network and originate from the cluster virtual MAC address.

## Cause

Changing a cluster member priority in SmartConsole reassigns the ClusterXL member identifier used for connection ownership tracking. As a result, ClusterXL redirects existing gateway-to-management connections to the peer member, which interrupts the logging connection.

## Solution

**Important** - Changing cluster member priority in SmartConsole is a configuration change. It is not a ClusterXL failover operation.

To test or initiate a failover, use the supported ClusterXL administrative failover procedure:

1. Do not use SmartConsole priority changes to test or initiate failover.
2. Treat SmartConsole priority changes as a configuration change only.
3. On the active Security Gateway cluster member, enter Expert mode and run:  
   `clusterXL_admin down`
4. Verify that the peer cluster member becomes Active.
5. To return the original member to normal ClusterXL operation, enter Expert mode on the same Security Gateway cluster member and run:  
   `clusterXL_admin up`  

**Expected Result**

1. ClusterXL performs a controlled administrative failover.
2. Logging connectivity remains intact.
3. The peer member becomes Active according to ClusterXL operation requirements.

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