Connecting to module CLIs using the System Management Module

All FortiGate-7000F chassis includes a System Management Module (SMM) (also called a shelf manager) on the chassis front panel. See the system guide for your chassis for details about the SMM.

FortiGate-7000F SMM front panel

The SMM includes two console ports named Console 1 and Console 2 that can be used to connect to the CLI of the FIMs and FPMs in the chassis. As described in the system guide, the console ports are also used to connect to SMC CLIs of the SMM and the FIMs and FPMs

By default when the chassis first starts up, Console 1 is connected to the FortiOS CLI of the FIM in slot 1 and Console 2 is disconnected. The default settings for connecting to each console port are:

Baud Rate (bps) 9600, Data bits 8, Parity None, Stop bits 1, and Flow Control None.

You can use the console connection change buttons to select the CLI that each console port is connected to. Press the button to cycle through the FIM and FPM FortiOS CLIs and disconnect this console. The console's LEDs indicate what it is connected to. If no LED is lit the console is either connected to the SMM SMC SDI console or disconnected. Both console ports cannot be connected to the same CLI at the same time. If a console button press would cause a conflict that module is skipped. If one of the console ports is disconnected then the other console port can connect to any CLI.

If you connect a PC to one of the SMM console ports with a serial cable and open a terminal session you can press Ctrl-T to enable console switching mode. Press Ctrl-T multiple times to cycle through the FIM and FPM module FortiOS CLIs (the new destination is displayed in the terminal window). If you press Ctrl-T after connecting to the FPM module in slot 6 the console is disconnected. Press Ctrl-T again to start over again at slot 1.

Example: connecting to the FortiOS CLI of the FIM in slot 1

Use the following steps to connect to the FortiOS CLI of the FPM in slot 3:

1. Connect the console cable supplied with your chassis to Console 1 and to your PC or other device RS-232 console port.

2. Start a terminal emulation program on the management computer. Use these settings:

   Baud Rate (bps) 9600, Data bits 8, Parity None, Stop bits 1, and Flow Control None.

3. Press Ctrl-T to enter console switch mode.

4. Repeat pressing Ctrl-T until you have connected to slot 1. Example prompt:

   <Switching to Console: FPM03 (9600)>

5. Log in to the CLI.

6. When your session is complete, enter the exit command to log out or use Ctrl-T to switch to another module CLI.