FortiGate Registration | License & firmware upgrade | First-time login FortiGate |Fortinet Firewall

 Today I will explain to you how to log in to the Fortinet firewall first time & device registration, license activations & firmware upgrades on the Forti cloud portal.

 

Below are the targets to explain, you can jump to the required one.

 

• ·       Default management IP & How to login
• ·       Check the default FortiOS version
• ·       Register New FortiGate on the portal (Forti cloud)
• ·       Download & upload recommended version & license file
• ·       Setup configuration to connect with the internet
• ·       Management IP configurations

After installation & power up the FortiGate firewall first login through the management port, default management IP is 192.168.1.99

 

Connect the LAN UTP cable on the firewall MGMT port & your laptop then assign the above subnet IP to the laptop ethernet adapter i-e 192.168.1.100

 

Screenshot of FortiGate MGMT port

Connect LAN UTP Cable on MGMT port of firewall & other on Laptop LAN port

Now open the browser & put the firewall default IP then enter as below

Remember that the default username is admin & no password just enter

For the first time set the password & click ok it will log out automatically then log in with admin & your new password.

It will show the below prompt just click on Later then click ok

The Main GUI Dashboard interface will be open, Here the important points that need to check are the firmware version in our case v6.4.6, and the serial number.

As to download the latest firmware version go to the Forti Cloud Fortinet support website  https://support.fortinet.com/

 

If you are already registered then click on login & put username & password. But if this is the first time then first need to register with your company email address & details.

As I am not a registered user let’s register first with my company email id

Click on Register and enter your email address

Enter mentioned Captcha & click on Get email verification code, you will receive one code in your email à click on Next

Fill in all the required options & select your company then click on submit

Finally, log in with your email ID

 

Now the very important point is FortiGate recommended upgrade path, Click on Support then Firmware download

Choose FortiGate from select Product, and click on upgrade path & current product in my case is FortiGate-101F, the current FortiOS version is 6.4.6 we checked in the above steps, and I will upgrade to 7.2.5. you can select as per your requirements.

 

Then Click on Go

Below is the recommended path first you need to download 6.4.9 as 6.4.6 is our current version.

Download & upgrade one by one from top to bottom sequence.

Now let’s download all the above versions 6.4.9,6.4.11,7.0.12,7.2.5

 

 

Click on Download then v6.00 then click on 6.4

Then click on 6.4.9

Now select the FortiGate model in my case is 101F and click on HTTPS Checksum, downloading will be start

 

The same processes for the remaining versions as well

 

 

After downloading all recommended versions start the upgrade

 

Let’s Start Upgrade:

Click System--à firmware -à Browse   and upload version

Upload version v6-build1966

Click on backup config and upgrade it will download the backup of the configuration then click on continue & it will start rebooting automatically.

After rebooting the same GUI page will display click on later then ok

Now check the version has been upgraded to 6.4.9

Follow the same steps for the remaining firmware version also. Now let’s activate the license.

 

 

FortiGate License activation:

 

Click on services then asset management

 

Now click on the Product list and put the serial number of FortiGate as we checked in the first step

 

In my case, this firewall will be used in the government department, you can choose as per requirement and click on next

Now write the Forti Cloud Key that will you get a label/sticker on the hardware.

The product description just gives a name, and support contract you will get from Distributer or Fortinet partner from where you bought this Firewall like the contract registration code.

 

 Search your company name in the Fortinet partner option & select then next & wait

Cloud Key on the sticker

So, check below license features and confirm

Device registration completed & license is ready to download

Download the license, and click on get the license file. It will download automatically

Now upload this license file to FortiGate firewall & activate

 

Click on system à FortiGuardàupload license fileà apply

License registered

Note: As in the latest version no need to connect to the internet but for the proper license activation & registration connect the FortiGate firewall to the internet once.

 

In the Next section, I will explain how to connect the FortiGate firewall to the internet & activate all licenses.

Interview Questions:

 

• ·       Is device registration required for the FortiGate firewall?
• ·       On which portal need to register the FortiGate firewall?
• ·       Which details are required to download the license for the FortiGate firewall?
• ·       What is the default management IP Address of the Fortinet firewall?
• ·       From where you will get FortiGate Cloud key?