Tag Fortigate

1. Downloading Free FortiGate VM

Fortinet offers a free version of FortiGate VM for various hypervisors including VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, and more. Follow these steps to download it:

1. Visit the Fortinet Support Portal:
   • Go to Fortinet Support.
   • Log in or create a new account if you don’t have one.
2. Download the FortiGate VM:
   • Navigate to the “Download” section.
   • Select “VM Images” and choose the appropriate hypervisor (e.g., VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, etc.).
   • Download the FortiGate VM package.

2. Deploying FortiGate VM on Your Hypervisor

The deployment process may vary slightly depending on your hypervisor. Below are steps for VMware ESXi:

1. Deploy OVF Template:
   • Open your VMware vSphere Client.
   • Right-click on your desired host or cluster and select “Deploy OVF Template.”
   • Follow the wizard, selecting the downloaded FortiGate VM OVF file.
   • Configure the VM settings (name, datastore, network mapping, etc.).
   • Finish the deployment process.
2. Power On the VM:
   • Once the deployment is complete, power on the FortiGate VM.

3. Initial Configuration

1. Access the FortiGate Console:
   • Use the vSphere Client to open the console of the FortiGate VM.
   • The initial login credentials are usually admin for the username and a blank password.
2. Set the Password:
   • You will be prompted to set a new password for the admin user.
3. Configure the Management Interface:
   • Assign an IP address to the management interface.
   • Example commands:

config system interface
edit port1
set ip 192.168.1.99/24
set allowaccess http https ping ssh
next
end

1. Access the Web Interface:
   • Open a web browser and navigate to https://<management-ip>.
   • Log in with the admin credentials.

4. Basic Setup via Web Interface

1. System Settings:
   • Navigate to System > Settings.
   • Set the hostname, time zone, and DNS servers.
2. Network Configuration:
   • Configure additional interfaces if needed under Network > Interfaces.
   • Create VLANs, set up DHCP, etc.
3. Security Policies:
   • Define security policies to control traffic flow under Policy & Objects > IPv4 Policy.
   • Set source and destination interfaces, addresses, and services.
4. Enable Features:
   • Enable and configure additional features like IPS, Antivirus, Web Filtering, etc., under Security Profiles.

5. Connecting to the Internet

1. WAN Interface Configuration:
   • Configure the WAN interface with the appropriate settings (static IP, DHCP, PPPoE, etc.).
2. Routing:
   • Set up a default route under Network > Static Routes pointing to the WAN gateway.
3. NAT Configuration:
   • Configure NAT settings under Policy & Objects > NAT.

6. Licensing

• The free version of FortiGate VM comes with limited features. For full functionality, you may need to purchase a license and activate it under System > FortiGuard.

Unboxing:

1. Inspect the Package:
   • Open the shipping box and check for the following components:
     • FortiGate 80F unit
     • Power adapter
     • Ethernet cables
     • Mounting hardware (if applicable)
     • Documentation and setup guide
2. Connectivity:
   • Identify the WAN (Wide Area Network), LAN (Local Area Network), and DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) ports on the FortiGate 80F.
   • Connect the appropriate network cables to these ports based on your network architecture.
3. Power On:
   • Connect the power adapter to the FortiGate 80F and plug it into a power source.
   • Power on the device and wait for it to complete the boot-up process. You can monitor the status using the indicator lights on the unit.

Initial Configuration:

1. Access Web Interface:
   • Open a web browser and enter the default IP address of the FortiGate 80F (e.g., https://192.168.1.99).
   • Log in using the default credentials (usually “admin” for both username and password).
2. Initial Setup Wizard:
   • Follow the prompts of the setup wizard to configure basic settings:
     • Set the system name and administrator password.
     • Configure the time zone and date/time settings.
3. Network Configuration:
   • Set up the WAN and LAN interfaces:
     • Assign IP addresses to the interfaces.
     • Define DHCP settings if applicable.
     • Configure any additional interfaces based on your network design.
4. Security Policies:
   • Define security policies to control traffic flow. This includes inbound and outbound rules based on source, destination, and services.
   • Implement firewall rules, NAT (Network Address Translation), and security profiles (antivirus, intrusion prevention, etc.).
5. Update Firmware:
   • Check for firmware updates in the web interface.
   • Download and apply the latest firmware to ensure security patches and feature enhancements.
6. VPN Configuration (Optional):
   • If your organization requires VPN connectivity, configure VPN settings:
     • Set up IPsec or SSL VPN tunnels.
     • Define VPN users and access policies.
7. Monitoring and Logging:
   • Configure logging settings to capture events and monitor network activity.
   • Set up alerts for critical events.
8. User Authentication (Optional):
   • If applicable, configure user authentication:
     • Integrate with LDAP or RADIUS for centralized user management.
     • Implement two-factor authentication for additional security.
9. Wireless Configuration (Optional):
   • If the FortiGate 80F has wireless capabilities, configure wireless settings, including SSID, security protocols, and access controls.
10. Testing:
    • Perform thorough testing to ensure that the firewall is functioning as expected.
    • Test internet access, VPN connections, and the enforcement of security policies.

Remove the maintainer account (which allowed users to log in through the console after a hard reboot). Users who lose their password must have physical access to the FortiGate and perform a TFTP restore of the firmware in order to regain access to the FortiGate.

Prerequisites:

1. Hardware Requirements:
   • Verify that your hardware meets the requirements for vCenter installation.
   • Ensure that the hardware is on the VMware Compatibility Guide.
2. Software Requirements:
   • Download the vCenter Server installer from the VMware website.
3. Database:
   • Decide whether to use the embedded PostgreSQL database or an external database like Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle.

Installation Steps:

1. Run the Installer:
   • Mount the vCenter Server ISO or run the installer directly.
   • Select “vCenter Server” from the installer menu.
2. Introduction:
   • Click “Next” on the introduction screen.
3. Accept the License Agreement:
   • Read and accept the license agreement.
4. Select Deployment Type:
   • Choose between a vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller (PSC) or an external PSC.
5. System Configuration:
   • Enter the system name and set the Single Sign-On (SSO) password.
   • Configure the network settings.
6. Select Database:
   • Choose between the embedded PostgreSQL database or an external database.
   • If using an external database, provide the database connection details.
7. SSO Configuration:
   • Configure the Single Sign-On (SSO) domain and site name.
8. Inventory Size:
   • Select the size of your inventory (tiny, small, medium, large, or x-large).
9. vCenter Service Account:
   • Provide a username and password for the vCenter Server service account.
10. Select Installation Location:
    • Choose the installation directory for vCenter.
11. Configure CEIP:
    • Choose whether to join the Customer Experience Improvement Program.
12. Ready to Install:
    • Review the configuration settings and click “Install” to begin the installation.
13. Installation Progress:
    • Monitor the installation progress.
14. Complete the Installation:
    • Once the installation is complete, click “Finish.”

Post-Installation Steps:

1. Access vCenter Server:
   • Open a web browser and navigate to the vCenter Server URL (https://<vCenterServer>/vsphere-client).
2. Configure vCenter Services:
   • Log in using the SSO administrator credentials.
   • Configure additional vCenter services if necessary.
3. License vCenter Server:
   • Apply the license key to vCenter Server.
4. Add ESXi Hosts:
   • In the vSphere Client, add the ESXi hosts to the vCenter inventory.
5. Create Datacenter and Clusters:
   • Organize your infrastructure by creating datacenters and clusters.
6. Configure Networking and Storage:
   • Set up networking and storage configurations.
7. Create Virtual Machines:
   • Start creating virtual machines within the vCenter environment.
8. Set Up Backup and Monitoring:
   • Implement backup solutions and configure monitoring for your vSphere environment.

Remember to refer to the official VMware documentation for the version you are installing, as steps may vary slightly based on the specific release.

Hello everyone , in this video I am going to integrate fortigate firewall with radius server , after that fortigate administrators can login and manage fortigate by using their active directory username and password.

Step 1: Log into FortiGate

Access your FortiGate device through a web browser or SSH client.

Step 2: Navigate to System Settings

1. Go to System > Settings in the FortiGate web interface.

Step 3: Configure RADIUS Server

2. Under Authentication Settings, click Create New to add a RADIUS server.
3. Fill in the following details:
   • Name: A descriptive name for the RADIUS server.
   • Server: Enter the IP address or hostname of your RADIUS server.
   • Secret: This is a shared secret key that must match the one configured on the RADIUS server for authentication. It ensures secure communication between FortiGate and the RADIUS server.
   • Authentication Port: Usually set to 1812 for RADIUS authentication.
   • Accounting Port: Typically set to 1813 for RADIUS accounting, if needed.
4. Click OK to save the RADIUS server configuration.

Step 4: Define a RADIUS Server Group

5. Under Authentication Settings, click Create New to add a RADIUS server group.
6. Give the group a descriptive name to identify it later.
7. Add the previously configured RADIUS server(s) to the group. You can use multiple RADIUS servers for redundancy and load balancing.
   • Select the RADIUS servers from the list and use the right arrow button to move them to the “Selected” column.
8. Click OK to save the RADIUS server group.

Step 5: Configure User Groups for RADIUS Authentication

9. If you want to use RADIUS for user authentication, navigate to User & Device > User Groups.
10. Edit an existing user group or create a new one based on your needs.
11. In the user group settings, go to the Remote Groups section and select the RADIUS server group you created in Step 4.

• This configuration ensures that users in this group will be authenticated against the RADIUS server.

Step 6: Testing

12. It’s essential to test your RADIUS configuration to verify that it’s functioning correctly. You can do this by attempting to log in using user accounts associated with the RADIUS server.

Step 7: Monitoring and Troubleshooting

13. FortiGate provides various monitoring tools under Log & Report where you can review RADIUS authentication and accounting logs. These logs can be instrumental in troubleshooting any issues with the RADIUS configuration.

Step 8: Additional Configuration

14. Depending on your specific requirements, you may need to configure additional options such as RADIUS accounting, timeout settings, and other advanced features. Consult the FortiGate documentation for comprehensive details on these options.

Step 9: Save Configuration

15. Make sure to save your configuration changes to ensure they are preserved across device reboots and updates.

By following these detailed steps, you can set up FortiGate to authenticate and authorize users through a RADIUS server effectively. This configuration enhances network security by centralizing user authentication and access control.

Hello every one , in this video I will introduce how can you integrate your fortigate firewall with Microsoft teams and get notification in case of admin login failed, Also I will describe fortigate automation service to do some actions for triggered events.

1. Configure Microsoft Teams Incoming Webhook:

• Log in to your Microsoft Teams account and navigate to the channel where you want to receive notifications.
• Click on the three dots (…) next to the channel name and select “Connectors.”
• Search for “Incoming Webhook” and click on it to configure.
• Give your webhook a name and customize its settings, such as the icon that will be displayed with messages.
• Once configured, a unique webhook URL will be generated. Copy and save this URL, as you’ll need it to send notifications from FortiGate to Teams.

2. Configure FortiGate Automation:

• Access your FortiGate firewall’s web interface or CLI.

a. Define Triggering Events:

– Depending on your specific use case, you’ll want to define the events or conditions that trigger notifications. For example, you might want to send notifications when: – A critical security event is detected (e.g., intrusion attempts, malware activity). – A specific network condition is met (e.g., bandwidth threshold exceeded). – Configuration changes are made on the firewall.

b. Create a Custom Script or Action:

• FortiGate Automation typically involves creating custom scripts or actions using FortiScript (for CLI-based automation) or FortiManager (for GUI-based automation).
• Here’s an example of a custom FortiScript that sends a notification to Microsoft Teams using the webhook URL:

  # Define the Microsoft Teams webhook URL
  set teams_webhook_url "https://yourteamswebhookurl"

  # Define the message to send
  set message "A critical security event has been detected on FortiGate!"

  # Construct the JSON payload
  set json_payload '{"text": "'$message'"}'

  # Send the HTTP POST request to Microsoft Teams
  execute log "Sending Microsoft Teams notification..."
  execute external "post $teams_webhook_url" $json_payload

c. Customize the Message:

- You can customize the message within the script to include details about the triggered event, such as date, time, event type, and any relevant information.

3. Test the Automation:

• To test the automation, trigger the event or condition that should initiate the notification. Check Microsoft Teams to ensure that the message is sent and received correctly.

4. Enable the Automation:

• Once you have successfully tested the automation and are confident in its functionality, you can enable it in your FortiGate configuration.

5. Monitoring and Fine-Tuning:

• Regularly monitor the automation to ensure that it continues to work as expected. If needed, you can make adjustments to the script or action to meet changing requirements or address any issues that may arise.

By following these detailed steps, you can set up a robust automation system within FortiGate to send Microsoft Teams notifications whenever specific events occur, helping you stay informed about critical network and security events in real-time.

Hello everyone in this video i will configure traffic shaping and session limit for my test web server , By enforcing session limits, you can prevent a single client or a group of clients from establishing an excessive number of connections, thus reducing the impact of DDoS attacks, also Web servers have finite resources, including CPU, memory, and network bandwidth.

Allowing too many concurrent sessions can lead to resource exhaustion, resulting in degraded performance or even server crashes. The FortiGate Traffic Shaper is a feature within the Fortinet FortiGate firewall platform that allows you to control and manage network traffic by applying quality of service (QoS) policies. The Traffic Shaper provides a set of tools to shape, control, and monitor network traffic based on predefined policies and rules.

1. Log into the FortiGate Web Interface:

• Open a web browser and enter the IP address of your FortiGate device.
• Log in with administrator credentials.

2. Navigate to Security Policies:

• In the FortiGate web interface, go to “Policy & Objects” or a similar section, depending on your FortiGate’s firmware version.

3. Create or Edit a Security Policy:

• You can either create a new security policy or edit an existing one. A security policy defines the rules for traffic passing through the firewall.

4. Configure the Session Limits:

a. General Settings: – In the security policy configuration, you’ll find an option to set session limits. Look for a section labeled “Session Options” or similar.

b. Select Session Limit Type: – Choose the appropriate session limit type based on your requirements: – Limit: Sets a maximum limit on the total number of concurrent sessions allowed for this policy. – Per-User Limit: Sets a session limit per user, which is useful in user-based authentication scenarios. – Per-IP Limit: Sets a session limit per source IP address.

c. Configure Limit Value: – Specify the numeric value for the session limit. For example, if you chose “Limit” and set the value to 100, this policy would allow a maximum of 100 concurrent sessions.

d. Define Action on Limit: – Choose what should happen when the session limit is reached. Common actions include: – Accept: Continue accepting new sessions, ignoring the limit. – Drop: Reject new sessions once the limit is reached. – Log: Log information about sessions that exceed the limit. – Rate Limit: Throttle the rate of new sessions when the limit is reached.

e. Idle Timeout and Session Timeout: – These settings help manage session duration: – Idle Timeout: Set the maximum time a session can remain idle (no traffic) before it’s terminated. This prevents stale connections from consuming resources. – Session Timeout: Define the maximum duration a session can last before being terminated, regardless of activity.

f. Advanced Session Options (Optional): – Depending on your FortiGate firmware version and specific requirements, you may have additional session-related options to configure. These could include session helpers for specific protocols or advanced settings for more granular control over session behavior.

5. Save and Apply the Configuration:

• Once you’ve configured the session limits according to your requirements, save the changes and apply the updated security policy.

6. Testing and Monitoring:

• Thoroughly test your firewall rules and session limits to ensure they align with your network’s security and performance needs.
• Monitor firewall logs and session statistics to track how the session limits are being enforced and whether any adjustments are needed.

Please note that the exact steps and terminology may vary depending on your FortiGate firmware version. Consult the official Fortinet documentation or seek assistance from Fortinet support for version-specific details or advanced configurations. Additionally, it’s important to regularly review and update your security policies to adapt to changing network requirements and threats.

Hello everyone, today I am going to show you how to automatically back up your FortiGate configuration. As you know, backing up the configuration is crucial for every network engineer. Sometimes, network engineers forget to download backups of their configurations. If you follow along with me in this video, your firewall configuration will be automatically backed up every day. Additionally, every time an admin user logs in to the FortiGate, it will also generate the configuration and upload it to SFTP.

Step 1: Access the FortiGate Web Interface

1. Open a web browser and enter the IP address or hostname of your FortiGate device to access its web interface.

Step 2: Log in 2. Log in to the FortiGate web interface with administrative credentials.

Step 3: Configure the SFTP Server

a. Navigate to System > Config > Features. b. Locate the “Backup” section and ensure that “Enable SFTP” is enabled. This allows the FortiGate device to communicate with the SFTP server for backup purposes.

Step 4: Create a Backup Profile

a. Go to System > Admin > Settings. b. Under Backup, you’ll find the “Backup Profiles” section. Click on the “Create New” button to create a new backup profile.

Step 5: Configure the Backup Profile

a. In the “Create New Backup Profile” window, provide a descriptive name for the profile. This name will help you identify the backup profile later. b. Select the frequency at which you want backups to occur. You can choose from options like daily, weekly, or monthly. c. Specify the time of day when the backup should be initiated. Choose a time that is convenient and doesn’t disrupt your network operations. d. Under the “Backup Location” section, select “SFTP Server” as the backup destination.

Step 6: Configure SFTP Server Settings

a. After selecting “SFTP Server,” you’ll need to enter the following details for your SFTP server: – Server IP Address or Hostname: This is the address of your SFTP server where backups will be sent. – Port: Typically, SFTP uses port 22, but ensure it matches your SFTP server’s configuration. – Username: Provide the SFTP username for authentication. – Password: Enter the password associated with the SFTP username. – Directory: Specify the directory on the SFTP server where you want to store the FortiGate backups.

Step 7: Schedule the Backup

a. After configuring the SFTP server settings, go to System > Config > Backup. b. Click on “Create New” to create a new backup schedule. c. In the “Create New Backup Schedule” window: – Select the backup profile you created in the previous step from the dropdown menu. – Choose the days of the week for backups (for weekly backups) or the day of the month (for monthly backups).

Step 8: Review and Apply Configuration

a. Review your backup configuration to ensure that all settings are accurate and complete. b. Click “Apply” or “OK” to save and apply the changes.

With these detailed steps, your FortiGate device is now configured to automatically back up its configuration to the specified SFTP server at the scheduled time and frequency you defined. Regularly verify the backups to ensure they are functioning correctly and provide a reliable safeguard for your firewall’s settings.

Hi , You can download fortigate latest version firmware to install in your virtualization environment from this link

Download Fortigate VM Firmware

Hello everyone , in this video I will integrate my fortigate firewall with windows active directory , by doing this I can write the policies based on logged on users to their desktops , for example for one security group I can write a policy that can be access to facebook and for another group facebook will be blocked , or allow internet just for specific users that raised in security. Writing policies is depend on your environment.

1. Understanding Active Directory:

• Active Directory is a Microsoft directory service that stores information about objects on a network, such as users, computers, groups, and more.
• It provides centralized authentication and authorization services for network resources.

2. Purpose of Integration:

• Integrating FortiGate with Active Directory helps streamline user authentication and access control for network resources.
• It simplifies user management by allowing administrators to use AD user accounts for firewall policies.

3. Steps for FortiGate Active Directory Integration:

a. Configuration in Active Directory: – Ensure your Active Directory is properly configured with user accounts, groups, and organizational units (OUs).

b. FortiGate Web Interface Access: – Access the FortiGate web interface using a web browser.

c. Create a New LDAP Server Object: – Navigate to the “System” menu and select “Authentication” > “LDAP Servers.” – Click “Create New” to add a new LDAP server object. – Configure the LDAP server settings, including the server’s IP address or hostname, port (typically 389 for LDAP, 636 for LDAPS), and authentication credentials (usually a service account in AD).

d. Test LDAP Server Connectivity: – After configuring the LDAP server object, you can test the connectivity to ensure FortiGate can communicate with your AD server.

e. Create LDAP Authentication Group: – Go to “User & Device” > “User Definition” > “LDAP Servers.” – Create an LDAP authentication group and specify the LDAP server you created earlier.

f. Define Firewall Policies: – Create firewall policies that use LDAP authentication groups for user-based access control. – For example, you can define policies that allow or deny access to specific resources based on user group membership.

g. User Authentication: – When a user attempts to access a network resource, FortiGate will use the LDAP server to verify the user’s credentials. – Users will need to enter their AD username and password for authentication.

4. Additional Considerations:

• Security: Ensure secure communication between FortiGate and Active Directory by using LDAPS (LDAP over SSL/TLS) for encrypted communication.
• User Mapping: FortiGate can map AD groups to local FortiGate groups, simplifying policy management.
• Fallback Mechanisms: Configure fallback authentication methods in case the LDAP server is unreachable or for users not in AD.

5. Monitoring and Maintenance:

• Regularly monitor the integration for any issues, such as LDAP server connectivity problems or changes in AD group memberships.
• Keep FortiGate and Active Directory servers up-to-date with security patches.