Fortinet fortigate-500 Quick Setup Guide

© Copyright 2006 Fortinet Incorporated. All rights reserved.  

Products mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trade-

marks of their respective holders.

Regulatory Compliance

FCC Class A Part 15 CSA/CUS

5 July 2006

Power cable connects to power outlet

Optional null modem cable connects 

to serial port on management computer

Straight-through Ethernet cable connects to Internet (public switch, router or modem)

Straight-through Ethernet cable connects to DMZ network

Straight-through Ethernet cable connects to another FortiGate-500 for HA

 

Straight-through Ethernet cable connects

to LAN or switch on internal network

Crossover Ethernet cable connects to

management computer on internal network

or

Straight-through Ethernet cables connect to other networks

Internal 

RJ-45

10/100 Base-T Ethernet

Connection to the internal network.

External

RJ-45

10/100 Base-T Ethernet

Connection to the Internet.

DMZ

RJ-45

10/100 Base-T Ethernet

Optional connection to a DMZ network. 

HA

RJ-45

10/100 Base-T Ethernet

Optional connection to other FortiGate-500 units for 

high availability (HA). For details, see the Documen-

tation CD-ROM. 

1 to 8

RJ-45

10/100 Base-T Ethernet

Optional connections to other networks. 

Console

DB-9 

9600 Bps

RS-232

Optional connection to the management computer. 

Provides access to the command line interface 

(CLI). 

USB

USB

USB

Optional connection for the FortiUSB key, modem or 

backup operation.

Place the unit on a stable surface. It requires 1.5 inches (3.75 cm) clearance above and 

on each side to allow for cooling. 

Make sure the power switch on the back of the unit is turned off before connecting the 

power and network cables. 

The following is displayed on the LCD when the unit is up and running: 

 

Menu [ Fortigat -> ] 

 

NAT, Standalone

•

•

•

Connect the FortiGate unit to a power outlet and to the internal and external networks.

Before beginning to configure the FortiGate unit, you need to plan how to integrate the unit into your network. Your configuration plan depends on the operating mode you select: NAT/Route 

mode (the default) or Transparent mode.

In NAT/Route mode, each FortiGate unit is visible to the network that it is connected to. All of 

its interfaces are on different subnets. Each interface that is connected to a network must be 

configured with an IP  

address that is valid for 

that network.

You would typically use 

NAT/Route mode when the 

FortiGate unit is deployed 

as a gateway between  

private and public  

networks. In its default 

NAT/Route mode configu-

ration, the unit functions as 

a firewall. Firewall policies 

control communications 

through the FortiGate unit.  

No traffic can pass through the FortiGate unit until you add firewall policies. In NAT/Route 

mode, firewall policies can operate in NAT mode or in Route mode. In NAT mode, the  

FortiGate unit performs network address translation before IP packets are sent to the  

destination network. In Route mode, no translation takes place.

In Transparent mode, the FortiGate unit is invisible to the network. All of its interfaces are on 

the same subnet. You only have to configure a management IP address so that you can make 

configuration changes. 

You would typically use the  

FortiGate unit in Transparent 

mode on a private network 

behind an existing firewall or 

behind a router. In its default 

Transparent mode configuration, 

the unit functions as a firewall. 

No traffic can pass through the 

FortiGate unit until you add 

firewall policies. 

You can connect up to four network segments to the FortiGate unit to control traffic between                                                                                            

these network segments.

Internet

Router

10.10.10.1

Management IP

Internal

Internal Network

10.10.10.3

External

Gateway to public network

204.23.1.5            10.10.10.2

Transparent mode policies 

controlling traffic between 

internal and external networks.

Refer to the Documentation CD-ROM for information on how to control traffic, and how to configure HA, antivirus protection, FortiGuard, Web content filtering, Spam filtering, 

intrusion prevention (IPS), and virtual private networking (VPN).

Power

Green

The FortiGate unit is on.

Off

The FortiGate unit is off.

Internal 

External  

DMZ

HA 

1 to 8

Amber

The correct cable is in use and the connected 

equipment has power.

Flashing Amber

Network activity at this interface.

Red

Ports 5 and 6. 

Green

The interface is connected at 100Mbps. 

Off

No link established.

Router

Internet

DMZ

network

DMZ

10.10.10.1

10.10.10.2

NAT mode policies 

controlling traffic between 

internal and external networks

Route mode policies 
controlling traffic between 
internal networks

    External 

204.23.1.5

    

     

Internal

network

192.168.1.3

Internal

192.168.1.99

The FortiGate web-based manager is an easy to use management tool. Use it to configure 

the administrator password, the interface and default gateway addresses, and the DNS 

server addresses.

Requirements: 

An Ethernet connection between the FortiGate unit and management computer. 

Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher on the management computer.

•

•

The CLI is a full-featured management tool. Use it to configure the administrator password, 

the interface addresses, the default gateway address, and the DNS server addresses. To 

configure advanced settings, see the Documentation CD-ROM.

The DB-9 serial connection between the FortiGate unit and management computer. 

A terminal emulation application (HyperTerminal for Windows) on the management 

computer.

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•

1 to 8

Interface

LCD

Control

Buttons

Internal,External,DMZ

HA Interface

Power

Light

RS-232 

Serial

Connection

Removable

Hard Drive

Power

Connection

Power

Switch

Power Cable

Rack-Mount Brackets

Null-Modem Cable

(RS-232)

Ethernet Cables:

Orange - Crossover

Grey - Straight-through

Documentation

FortiGate-500

Copyright 2006 Fortinet Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Trademarks

Products mentioned in this document are trademarks.