Setting up FortiGate for management access

After you receive your FortiGate, open the box, connect the cables for management and internet access, and use a management computer to access the FortiOS GUI.

For information about setting up FortiGate on hypervisors, such as FortiGate-VM on ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V, and so on, go to FortiGate Public Cloud or FortiGate Private Cloud and follow the deployment section of the administration guide for your hypervisor and cloud computing platform, for example, Microsoft Hyper-V Administration Guide > Deployment.

To set up FortiGate for initial management access:

1. Unpack the FortiGate box, and locate the following items:

   • FortiGate device

   • Power cable

   • Ethernet cable

   You will also need to provide the following items:

   • Second Ethernet cable. Only one Ethernet cable is provided to connect the FortiGate to a management computer. Locate a second Ethernet cable to connect the FortiGate to a port for internet access.

   • Management computer to access the FortiOS GUI

2. Use the power cable to connect the FortiGate to a power source.

3. Use one Ethernet cable to connect the management port on the FortiGate to a management computer.

   The default interface used for management differs from model to model. On most units with a single dedicated management port, the port is named MGMT. On units with multiple management ports, the names MGMT1 and MGMT2 are used. On units without dedicated management ports, port1 is used for initial management access, and the port can be part of a virtual switch group.

   The following example is for a FortiGate 80F, which uses port1 for initial management access. For information about your FortiGate hardware model, go to FortiGate/FortiOS Hardware Guides.

   

4. Use a second Ethernet cable to connect the WAN on the FortiGate to an upstream router, switch, or modem with access to the internet.

   On some FortiGate models, dedicated WAN interface(s) labeled WAN1, WAN2, and so on are available. If no dedicated WAN interfaces are present, select an interface of your choice for the WAN connection.

   Internet access is available when the FortiGate model has addressing mode set to DHCP by default on the WAN interface, and the WAN interface is connected to a network with a DHCP server assigning the correct IP and gateway for internet access. If these conditions are not met, then internet access is not available after connecting your WAN interface. See Configuring basic settings.

5. On the management computer, assign an address in the 192.168.1.0/24 network.

6. In a web browser, go to https://192.168.1.99 and enter the default user name, admin, and leave the password field blank.

   By default, the management interface or the internal interface is configured to allow HTTPS access with the IP address 192.168.1.99.

   The GUI is displayed in your browser.

7. Watch the video and complete the FortiGate Setup wizard. See Completing the FortiGate Setup wizard.