Configuring FortiClient EMS

The FortiGate Security Fabric root device can link to FortiClient Endpoint Management System (EMS) and FortiClient EMS Cloud (a cloud-based EMS solution) for endpoint connectors and automation. Up to three EMS servers can be added to the Security Fabric, including a FortiClient EMS Cloud server. EMS settings are synchronized between all fabric members.

To enable cloud-based EMS services, the FortiGate must be registered to FortiCloud with an appropriate user account. The following examples presume that the EMS certificate has already been configured.

To add an on-premise FortiClient EMS server to the Security Fabric in the GUI:

1. On the root FortiGate, go to System > Feature Visibility and enable Endpoint Control.
2. Go to Security Fabric > Fabric Connectors.
3. Click Create New and click FortiClient EMS.
4. For Type, click FortiClient EMS.
5. Enter a name and IP address or FQDN. When connecting to a multitenancy-enabled EMS, Fabric connectors must use an FQDN to connect to EMS, where the FQDN hostname matches a site name in EMS (including "Default"). The following are examples of FQDNs to provide when configuring the connector to connect to the default site and to a site named SiteA, respectively: default.ems.yourcompany.com, sitea.ems.yourcompany.com. See Multitenancy.

   

6. Click OK.

   A window appears to verify the EMS server certificate:

   

7. Click Accept.

   The FortiClient EMS Status section displays a Successful connection and an Authorized certificate:

   

To add a FortiClient EMS Cloud server to the Security Fabric in the GUI:

FortiClient EMS Cloud can only be configured when the FortiGate is registered to FortiCloud and the EMS Cloud entitlement is verified. If the FortiCloud account does not pass the FortiClient EMS Cloud entitlement check, the option is not selectable in the FortiClient EMS connector settings.

1. Go to Security Fabric > Fabric Connectors.
2. Click Create New and click FortiClient EMS.
3. Set Type to FortiClient EMS Cloud.
4. Enter a name.

   

5. Click OK.

   A window appears to verify the EMS server certificate.

6. Click Accept.

   The FortiClient EMS Status section displays a Successful connection and an Authorized certificate.

To test connectivity with the EMS server:

1. Go to Security Fabric > Fabric Connectors and double-click the FortiClient EMS or FortiClient EMS Cloud card.
2. In the FortiClient EMS Status section under Connection, click Refresh.

To add an on-premise FortiClient EMS server to the Security Fabric in the CLI:

config endpoint-control fctems
    edit <ems_name>
        set server <ip_address>
        set certificate <string>
        set https-port <integer>
        set source-ip <ip_address>
    next
end

The https-port is the EMS HTTPS access port number, and the source-ip is the REST API call source IP address.

To add a FortiClient EMS Cloud server to the Security Fabric in the CLI:

config endpoint-control fctems
    edit <name>
        set fortinetone-cloud-authentication enable
        set certificate <string>
    next
end

To verify the EMS Cloud entitlement in the CLI:

# diagnose test update info 

To verify an EMS certificate in the CLI:

# execute fctems verify ems137

        Subject:     C = CA, ST = bc, L = burnaby, O = devqa, OU = top3, CN = sys169.qa.fortinet.cm, emailAddress = xxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
        Issuer:      CN = 155-sub1.fortinet.com
        Valid from:  2017-12-05 00:37:57  GMT
        Valid to:    2027-12-02 18:08:13  GMT
        Fingerprint: D3:7A:1B:84:CC:B7:5C:F0:A5:73:3D:BB:ED:21:F2:E0
        Root CA:     No
        Version:     3
        Serial Num:
                01:86:a2
        Extensions:
                Name:     X509v3 Basic Constraints
                Critical: yes
                Content:
                CA:FALSE

                Name:     X509v3 Subject Key Identifier
                Critical: no
                Content:
                35:B0:E2:62:AF:9A:7A:E6:A6:8E:AD:CB:A4:CF:4D:7A:DE:27:39:A4

                Name:     X509v3 Authority Key Identifier
                Critical: no
                Content:
                keyid:66:54:0F:78:78:91:F2:E4:08:BB:80:2C:F6:BC:01:8E:3F:47:43:B1
DirName:/C=CA/ST=bc/L=burnaby/O=devqa/OU=top3/CN=fac155.fortinet.com/emailAddress=xyguo@fortinet.com
serial:01:86:A4

                Name:     X509v3 Subject Alternative Name
                Critical: no
                Content:
                DNS:sys169.qa.fortinet.cm

                Name:     X509v3 Key Usage
                Critical: no
                Content:
                Digital Signature, Non Repudiation, Key Encipherment, Data Encipherment, Key Agreement, Certificate Sign, CRL Sign, Encipher Only, Decipher Only

                Name:     X509v3 Extended Key Usage
                Critical: no
                Content:
                TLS Web Server Authentication, TLS Web Client Authentication

EMS configuration needs user to confirm server certificate.
Do you wish to add the above certificate to trusted remote certificates? (y/n)y

Troubleshooting

Certificate not trusted

When configuring a new connection to an EMS server, the certificate might not be trusted.

When you click Authorize, a warning displays: The server certificate cannot be authenticated with installed CA certificates. Please install its CA certificates on this FortiGate.

In the CLI, an error message displays when you try to verify the certificate:

# execute fctems verify Win2K16-EMS
certificate not configured/verified: 2
Could not verify server certificate based on current certificate authorities.
Error 1--92-60-0 in get SN call: EMS Certificate is not signed by a known CA.

The default FortiClient EMS certificate that is used for the SDN connection is signed by the CA certificate that is saved on the Windows server when FortiClient EMS is first installed. You can manually export and install it on the FortiGate.

To manually export and install the certificate on to the FortiGate:

1. Export the EMS certificate on the server that EMS is installed on:
   1. On the Windows server that EMS is installed on, go to Settings > Manage computer certificates.
   2. In the certificate management module, go to Trusted Root Certification Authorities > Certificates.
   3. Right click on the certificate issued by FortiClient Enterprise Management Server and select All Tasks > Export.
   4. The Certificate Export Wizard opens. Click Next.
   5. Select Base-64 encoded X.509, then click Next.

      

   6. Enter a file name for the certificate and click Browse to select the folder where it will be located, then click Next.
   7. Review the settings, then click Finish. The certificate is downloaded to the specified folder.
2. On the FortiGate, import the certificate:
   1. Go to System > Certificate. By default, the Certificate option is not visible, see Feature visibility for information.
   2. Click Import > CA Certificate.
   3. Set Type to File, and click Upload to import the certificate from the management computer.
   4. Click OK. The imported certificate is shown in the Remote CA Certificate section of the certificate table.
3. Try to authorize the certificate on the FortiGate:
   1. Go to Security Fabric > Fabric Connectors and edit the FortiClient EMS connector. The connection status should now say that the certificate is not authorized.
   2. Click Authorize. The following warning is shown:

      

      The warning can also be seen in the CLI:

      # execute fctems verify Win2K16-EMS
      failure in certificate configuration/verification: -4
      Could not verify EMS. Error 1--94-0-401 in get SN call: Authentication denied.
      

4. Authorize the FortiGate on EMS:
   1. Log in to the EMS server console and go to Administration > Fabric Devices.
   2. Select the serial number of the FortiGate device, then click Authorize.
5. Try to authorize the certificate on the FortiGate again:
   1. On the FortiGate, go to Security Fabric > Fabric Connectors and edit the FortiClient EMS connector.
   2. Click Authorize.
   3. When presented with the EMS server certificate, click Accept to accept the certificate.

      Your connection should now be successful and authorized.

      

   4. Click OK.