The fab interface is the data link between the nodes of a chassis cluster and is used to forward traffic between the chassis and to synchronize the data plane software’s dynamic runtime state. Real-time objects (RTOs) are exchanged on the fab interface to maintain session synchronization for operations such as authentication, NAT, ALGs, and IPsec. In an active/active configuration, inter-chassis transit traffic is sent over the fab interface, as traffic arriving on a node that needs to be processed on the other or traffic processed on a node that needs to exit through an interface on the other is forwarded over the fabric. The fab interface does not enable configuration synchronization, as this is done by the control link. Heartbeat signals sent on the fab interface monitor the health of the data plane link, not the control plane link. References: Chassis Cluster Fabric Interfaces, HA Chassis cluster, difference between Swfab and Fab