Technical Note - Loading FortiGate Firmware Image Using TFTP PDF
Technical Note - Loading FortiGate Firmware Image Using TFTP PDF
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1 of 4 07-Aug-13 6:33 PM
Technical Note : Loading FortiGate firmware image using TFTP http://kb.fortinet.com/kb/viewContent.do?externalId=10338&sliceId=1
Description
This article describes how to download and install firmware from a local TFTP server via the BIOS, under CLI control.
Caution: Installing firmware from a local TFTP server under console control resets your FortiGate unit to factory default settings. If
possible, consider backing up your configuration before starting the TFTP server firmware upgrade.
Components
a null modem, or RJ-45 to DB9 console cable (supplied with the FortiGate unit). See also the related article Serial cable
pinouts for console access to Fortinet devices
an Ethernet RJ45 cable
a terminal client, such as a PC running HyperTerminal (Windows)
a TFTP server (see below the recommended software)
Windows users
Linux users
tftpd-hpa
[http://freshmeat.net/projects/tftpd-hpa/]
1) Download the image for your FortiGate from the Fortinet Support Site. At the same website, you can also download the <image
name>.md5 file that contains the MD5 checksum for the firmware image you downloaded.
2) Check that the image was downloaded successfully and is not corrupted Compare your generated MD5 sum against the one in the
.md5 file.
Windows users can download and use the md5sum.exe <filename> (such as : http://www.pctools.net/win32/md5sums/ or
http://www.md5summer.com)
Linux users can accomplish this with md5sum <filename>
Mac OS X users can also use md5sum <filename>
Notes
Some console prompts in this procedure include a default value in square brackets, for example, [image.out]. To use this default value,
2 of 4 07-Aug-13 6:33 PM
Technical Note : Loading FortiGate firmware image using TFTP http://kb.fortinet.com/kb/viewContent.do?externalId=10338&sliceId=1
press Enter.
8 bits
no parity
1 stop bit
9600 baud (the FortiGate-300 uses 115,000 baud)
Flow Control = None
1 - Connect the computer to the FortiGate unit using the null modem cable.
2 - Connect the computer running the TFTP server to the FortiGate unit. Use the table below to determine which port to connect to.
4 - When the console displays "Press any key to display configuration menu..." press the spacebar or any
other key.
5 - If the menu includes Format boot device [F] press F and wait for the device formatting to complete.
7 - Type the IP address of the computer running the TFTP server and press Enter.
The console displays:
8 - Type an unused IP address that is on the same subnet as the TFTP server and press Enter.
The console displays:
10 - Press D.
The FortiGate unit installs the new firmware image and restarts. The installation may take a few minutes to complete.
Troubleshooting
Once entering the firmware image name and pressing enter, the FortiGate unit MAC address appears and the "#" symbols indicate the
progress of the install. If the MAC address does not show up, check the network cable and connector to ensure they are firmly
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Technical Note : Loading FortiGate firmware image using TFTP http://kb.fortinet.com/kb/viewContent.do?externalId=10338&sliceId=1
The following is an example of what the output from the console can look like. Depending on the FortiGate unit, this may vary slightly.
Enter G,F,Q,or H: F
Enter G,F,Q,or H: G
=========================
Wait until firewall restart.
Login:
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