FortiGate in GNS3 Step-By-Step Guide with FREE License

This video provides a complete walk through for setting up a FortiGate Firewall within GNS3 using the correct vm image. We cover the entire process from creating a FortiCare account and selecting the correct vm image version (avoiding known buggy releases like 7.6.4) to importing the appliance into your topology. A major focus of this tutorial is the evaluation license activation process, including a critical troubleshooting step for manual license injection if the automatic request times out. Finally, we configure the basic network settings, including DHCP and firewall policies, to get traffic flowing from a virtual PC to the internet.

In this video:
Downloading the specific FortiGate KVM image compatible with GNS3.
Renaming and preparing QCOW2 files for successful import.
Configuring the GNS3 security device template for version 7.6.3.
Connecting the FortiGate VM to a NAT Cloud for internet access.
Performing the initial CLI login and setting administrative passwords.
Activating the free permanent evaluation license via the Web GUI.
Troubleshooting: How to manually download and upload the license file if the server times out.
Configuring Interfaces, DHCP servers, and Firewall Policies (NAT).
Verifying connectivity with a VPCS ping test.

Timestamps
0:00 Intro and Objective
0:16 Creating a FortiCare Support Account
1:08 Downloading the Correct VM Image (KVM)
1:33 Choosing the Working Version (7.6.3)
2:35 Renaming the QCOW2 File for GNS3
3:11 Installing the FortiGate Template in GNS3
5:51 Connecting to the NAT Cloud Network
7:37 Initial Boot and Admin Login
8:39 Accessing the Web GUI and License Setup
10:23 Troubleshooting: Manual License Activation
11:01 Downloading the License File from FortiCloud
13:04 Basic System Configuration (Ports & Timeout)
14:20 Configuring the LAN Interface & DHCP
15:30 Creating the Firewall Policy (LAN to Internet)
16:36 Lab Test: Verifying Connectivity with VPCS
17:35 Summary

#FortiGate #GNS3 #Fortinet #NetworkSecurity #FirewallSetup #Homelab #NetworkEngineering #KVM #FortiOS #CyberSecurity