Step 1: Install the appliance

This Handbook assumes you have already installed the appliance into a hardware rack and used the appropriate cables to connect the traffic interfaces to your network.

Before continuing with “Getting Started”:

Please refer to the FortiDDoS Model Quick Start Guide BEFORE cabling traffic ports. Several startup operations result in system reboots and these should be done prior to putting the system inline with production traffic.

Summary:

Do NOT cable traffic ports.

Connect laptop to Console or Mgmt1 port and set up Administrator password. From Release 5.2.0, FortiDDoS will not allow a “null” password. You will be redirected from admin/null logon to create a new password. If the system is shipped from the factory with firmware release lower than 5.2.0, you are not required to replace the “null” password but when you upgrade below, you will be required to replace it when you next log in.

Upgrade system to latest GA Release. The upgrade result in a system reboot.

Set Time Zone and NTP (this is critical for system operation). Time Zone change and NTP change may cause a system reboot.

Once above is done, you can cable the traffic ports.

The FortiDDoS system is deployed inline (between the Internet and your local network resources). Consecutively numbered ports belong to port pairs: Use an odd port numbers (1, 3, 5, and so on) for the LAN-side connection and an even port number (2, 4, 6, and so on) for the WAN-side connection. For example, port1 and port2 are a pair. The port1 interface is connected to a switch that connects servers in the local network; the port2 interface is connected to the network path that receives traffic from the Internet.

For information about hardware appliances, refer to the FortiDDoS hardware manuals. For HA installations, refer to High Availability Deployments.