License Trial Install Fixed | Fortigate Vm

This guide walks you through the process of setting up a FortiGate VM using the Free Trial license.

Fortinet offers a "permanent" free trial for their VM series, which is perfect for learning the FortiOS interface, testing configurations, or setting up a small home lab. While it has limitations (like restricted encryption levels and resource caps), it is fully functional for basic routing and security tasks. 1. Prerequisites Before you start, ensure you have:

A FortiCloud Account: You must have an account at fortinet.com. Note that a business email is generally required for registration (public domains like Gmail or Yahoo may be restricted for trial features).

A Hypervisor: You’ll need VMware ESXi/Workstation, KVM, Nutanix, or Microsoft Hyper-V. 2. Download the FortiGate VM Image Log in to the Fortinet Support Portal. Navigate to Support > VM Images.

Select FortiGate as the product and choose your hypervisor (e.g., VMware ESXi).

Download the New Deployment package (usually a .zip containing OVF or QCOW2 files). 3. Deploying the VM

The deployment steps vary slightly depending on your hypervisor, but the core logic is the same:

For VMware: Right-click your host/cluster and select "Deploy OVF Template." Select the .ovf, .mf, and .vmdk files from your download.

Hardware Settings: By default, the trial supports a maximum of 2 vCPUs and 2 GB of RAM. Assigning more may prevent the trial license from activating.

Network Interfaces: Ensure at least one interface is mapped to a network with internet access (this is required for license activation). 4. Initial Configuration (CLI)

Once the VM powers on, open the console. Log in with the default credentials: Username: admin Password: (Leave blank/press Enter) You will be prompted to set a new password.

Next, configure the management interface so you can access the GUI. Assuming port1 is your WAN/Management port: fortigate vm license trial install

config system interface edit port1 set mode dhcp # Or use 'set mode static' and 'set ip x.x.x.x 255.255.255.0' set allowaccess http https ssh ping next end Use code with caution.

To verify the IP address assigned via DHCP, run: get system interface physical. 5. Activating the Free Trial License Open your web browser and go to https://. Log in with your new admin password. Upon login, you will see a "Setup" or "Licensing" screen. Select FortiGate Free Trial.

Enter your FortiCloud account credentials (Email and Password).

The VM will communicate with FortiGuard servers, download the trial license, and automatically reboot. 6. Verification

After the reboot, log back into the GUI. You can check the license status on the Dashboard under the System Information widget. It should display: License: Evaluation

Expiration: Permanent (or a specific date depending on the current FortiOS version policy) Key Limitations to Remember

Low Encryption: Trial licenses often disable "High Encryption" (No SSL VPN with AES-256, for example). Resource Limits: 2 vCPU / 2GB RAM max.

No FortiGuard Updates: You won’t receive live updates for Antivirus or IPS signatures, though you can still configure the features manually. Vdoms: Limited to 1 VDOM.

The FortiGate VM permanent trial (introduced in FortiOS 7.2.1) is a significant shift from the previous 15-day time-limited trials. It allows for indefinite testing of the FortiOS platform, provided you accept specific resource and feature constraints. Core Trial Limitations

The trial is designed for learning and lab environments rather than production use. According to the Fortinet Administration Guide, the key restrictions include: Hardware Caps: Limited to 1 CPU and 2 GB of RAM.

Networking: Maximum of 3 interfaces, 3 firewall policies, and 3 routes. This guide walks you through the process of

Security: Supports low encryption only (no strong crypto for VPNs) and excludes FortiCare support.

Connectivity: Requires access to FortiGuard for periodic license validation. Installation & Activation Review

The process is straightforward but requires a FortiCloud account for registration.

Deployment: Import the VM image (KVM, ESXi, etc.) into your hypervisor.

Registration: Log into the Fortinet Customer Service & Support portal to obtain a license file or activation code. Activation: Access the FortiGate GUI using the default IP.

Navigate to the Virtual Machine widget on the dashboard and select the Evaluation License icon.

Upload the license file or enter your FortiCloud credentials to trigger the activation and a mandatory system reboot. Community Experience & Tips

Users often note that while the resource limits are tight, the removal of the 15-day expiration makes it a viable tool for long-term self-study.

“To renew your Evaluation VM... decommissioning the old serial and re-registering can trigger a reboot but refreshes the license state.” YouTube · Dynamic Coder · 2 years ago

Summary Verdict: The trial is an excellent "free-forever" lab tool for learning the interface and basic policy logic. However, the 3-policy limit and low encryption make it unsuitable for even the smallest production environments or advanced VPN testing. Permanent trial mode for FortiGate-VM

To install a FortiGate VM with a trial license, you first download the VM deployment package for your hypervisor from the Fortinet Support site Option A: Extend the Trial Fortinet rarely extends

. After deploying the VM and configuring initial network access, you activate the permanent evaluation license by logging into the FortiGate GUI with your FortiCloud/FortiCare account credentials. Installation Steps Download the Image : Log in to the Fortinet Support site , navigate to Support > VM Images

, and download the deployment package for your hypervisor (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V, KVM). Deploy the VM

Extract the downloaded zip file and import the OVF or VHD file into your hypervisor. Power on the VM. Initial CLI Configuration Log in via the console using the default username (no password). Set a new password when prompted. Configure the IP address on to allow management access:

config system interface edit port1 set mode static set ip set allowaccess http https ssh end Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard

Ensure the VM has internet access and a DNS server configured to reach FortiGuard servers. Activate Trial License Access the web GUI via

Option A: Extend the Trial

Fortinet rarely extends the initial 15-day trial for free. However, partners (like VARs) can request a 30-day NFR (Not for Resale) license. Contact your Fortinet account manager.

Problem 2: Trial license shows “Expired” immediately

Steps

  1. Deploy the FortiGate VM

    • Import/attach the downloaded image/OVA to your hypervisor and create the VM with recommended resources (consult Fortinet docs for the model).
    • Configure virtual NICs (at least one management/wan and one internal/lan) and boot the VM.

  2. Initial access

    • Connect to the VM console or network management IP.
    • Default credentials (for initial setup): admin with no password (set one on first login) — confirm from the VM console prompt if different.
    • Configure management IP via console or GUI so the VM is reachable from your browser.

  3. Obtain a trial license

    • On Fortinet’s licensing portal you can request a FortiGate VM trial license (usually requires a Fortinet account). If you don’t have an account, create one.
    • Provide the VM’s serial number (visible in the FortiGate GUI Dashboard > System Information or via CLI: get system performance top | get system status shows serial) when requesting the trial.
    • The portal will issue a trial license file or generate a registration that binds the trial to the serial.

  4. Install the trial license

    • GUI method:
      • Log into FortiGate GUI (https://).
      • Go to System → FortiGuard (or System → Dashboard → License) → License Information.
      • Use the Upload/Import license option and upload the license file provided by Fortinet or click “Register”/“Retrieve” if using an online registration tied to your Fortinet account.
    • CLI method (if you have a license file):
      • Transfer the license file to the FortiGate (e.g., via SCP or TFTP to the device).
      • From CLI: execute: 
        execute restore license tftp <filename> <tftp-server-ip>
        or use the appropriate restore command per FortiOS version.
      • Alternatively use: 
        config system global
set admin-scp enable
end
        then copy file via SCP and restore as above.
    • After import, the device will process the license and may reboot.

  5. Verify license

    • GUI: System → Dashboard → License/Status shows trial expiry date and features enabled.
    • CLI: run 
      get system status
diagnose autoupdate versions
      or 
      get system license
      (commands vary by FortiOS; check your version’s CLI reference).

  6. Post-install checks

    • Ensure entitlements (IPS, AV, web filter, etc.) are listed as active for trial.
    • Update FortiGuard/AV definitions: System → FortiGuard or CLI: execute update-now commands.
    • Configure interfaces, routes, and policies as needed.