Formatting the hard disk or partition on FortiManager-3000 units and higher deletes the URL and antispam databases required to provide FortiGuard Email Filter and Web Filtering services through the built-in FDS. The databases will re-initialize when the built-in FDS is scheduled next, to synchronize them with the FDN.

Before formatting the hard disk or partition, you can back up the URL and antispam database using the CLI, which encrypts the file. You can also back up licenses as well. The databases can be restored by importing them using the CLI. If you have created a custom URL database, you can also backup or restore this customized database (for FortiGate units).