Select your newly created FortiGate VM from the list and click . Go to the Storage tab.
Choose your desired FortiOS version (e.g., FortiOS 7.2 or 7.4).
Once Port 1 has an IP address and allowaccess includes HTTP/HTTPS, you can log into the web console. Open a web browser on your host machine.
:
If you downloaded the KVM package containing a .qcow2 file, you must convert it to a .vdi file using the VirtualBox command-line utility:
Verify your host machine and FortiGate port1 are on the exact same subnet. Ensure you typed set allowaccess https http on the port configuration.
Click on the or Controller: SATA (if empty, add a SATA Controller). Click the Add Hard Disk icon next to the controller.
Assign at least 1 CPU or 2 CPUs if your host hardware permits. Click Next . Attach the Virtual Hard Disk Choose Use an Existing Virtual Hard Disk File . Click the folder icon, then click Add .
, and attach the downloaded virtual disk as the primary storage. Network Configuration Adapter 1 (Management) Bridged Adapter
Alternatively, modern Fortinet KVM downloads frequently include pre-built .vmdk files directly inside the zip for broader hypervisor compatibility. Step 2: Creating the Virtual Box Machine
Do you need help setting up a between two VMs?
Select your active host network card (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Adapter 2 (LAN / Internal Lab) Enable Network Adapter: Checked Attached to: Internal Network
Perhaps the most educational aspect of this setup is the configuration of VirtualBox networking. Unlike a standard virtual machine running a desktop operating system, a firewall requires multiple network interfaces to function—specifically, a WAN port for external traffic and a LAN port for internal traffic. VirtualBox offers various network modes such as NAT, Bridged, and Host-Only, each simulating a different physical connection type. Configuring these interfaces forces the user to understand network isolation and traffic flow. For instance, setting the first interface to NAT allows the VM to access the internet for licensing and updates, while setting a second interface to "Internal Network" allows it to communicate with other VMs, such as a Windows or Linux client, simulating a protected internal network segment.
Download the "FortiGate VM for Generic KVM" (the .out.ovf.zip file) from the Fortinet support portal. Step 1: Preparing the Virtual Machine Files
Download the file named similar to: FGT_VM64_KVM-v7.x.x.F-buildXXXX.out.kvm.zip . Step 2: Extract and Prepare the Virtual Disks
With the virtual disk file ready, you can create a custom virtual machine container within VirtualBox. Open VirtualBox and click the button. Configure the initial VM settings: Name: FortiGate-VM Type: Linux
Select your newly created FortiGate VM from the list and click . Go to the Storage tab.
Choose your desired FortiOS version (e.g., FortiOS 7.2 or 7.4).
Once Port 1 has an IP address and allowaccess includes HTTP/HTTPS, you can log into the web console. Open a web browser on your host machine.
:
If you downloaded the KVM package containing a .qcow2 file, you must convert it to a .vdi file using the VirtualBox command-line utility: fortigate vm virtualbox
Verify your host machine and FortiGate port1 are on the exact same subnet. Ensure you typed set allowaccess https http on the port configuration.
Click on the or Controller: SATA (if empty, add a SATA Controller). Click the Add Hard Disk icon next to the controller.
Assign at least 1 CPU or 2 CPUs if your host hardware permits. Click Next . Attach the Virtual Hard Disk Choose Use an Existing Virtual Hard Disk File . Click the folder icon, then click Add .
, and attach the downloaded virtual disk as the primary storage. Network Configuration Adapter 1 (Management) Bridged Adapter Select your newly created FortiGate VM from the
Alternatively, modern Fortinet KVM downloads frequently include pre-built .vmdk files directly inside the zip for broader hypervisor compatibility. Step 2: Creating the Virtual Box Machine
Do you need help setting up a between two VMs?
Select your active host network card (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Adapter 2 (LAN / Internal Lab) Enable Network Adapter: Checked Attached to: Internal Network
Perhaps the most educational aspect of this setup is the configuration of VirtualBox networking. Unlike a standard virtual machine running a desktop operating system, a firewall requires multiple network interfaces to function—specifically, a WAN port for external traffic and a LAN port for internal traffic. VirtualBox offers various network modes such as NAT, Bridged, and Host-Only, each simulating a different physical connection type. Configuring these interfaces forces the user to understand network isolation and traffic flow. For instance, setting the first interface to NAT allows the VM to access the internet for licensing and updates, while setting a second interface to "Internal Network" allows it to communicate with other VMs, such as a Windows or Linux client, simulating a protected internal network segment. Once Port 1 has an IP address and
Download the "FortiGate VM for Generic KVM" (the .out.ovf.zip file) from the Fortinet support portal. Step 1: Preparing the Virtual Machine Files
Download the file named similar to: FGT_VM64_KVM-v7.x.x.F-buildXXXX.out.kvm.zip . Step 2: Extract and Prepare the Virtual Disks
With the virtual disk file ready, you can create a custom virtual machine container within VirtualBox. Open VirtualBox and click the button. Configure the initial VM settings: Name: FortiGate-VM Type: Linux