Technical Tip: FortiGate console display is unclear during boot, only 'System is started' shows clearly
Description
This article describes that on some rare occasions, the display through the console access is unclear except for 'System is started' as shown in the following example:
The cause is that the console baud rate is not correctly adjusted between the PC and the FortiGate.
Scope
FortiGate.
Solution
Make sure that the PC baud rate is set to 9600 bps and also set it on the FortiGate through the boot menu.
- Reboot the FortiGate.
- Press any key when the message 'Press any key to display configuration menu...' is displayed.
- When the following menu is displayed, select I.
[G]: Get firmware image from TFTP server.
[F]: Format boot device.
[I]: Configuration and information.
[Q]: Quit menu and continue to boot with default firmware.
[H]: Display this list of options.
Enter G,F,I,Q,or H:
[I]: Configuration and information.
[Q]: Quit menu and continue to boot with default firmware.
[H]: Display this list of options.
Enter G,F,I,Q,or H:
When the following menu is displayed, select S.
[S]: Set serial port baudrate(will take effect on next boot).
[T]: Set image download port.
[C]: Set DHCP enable (will take effect on next boot).
[I]: Display hardware information.
[Q]: Quit this menu.
[H]: Display this list of options.
Enter S,T,C,D,I,Q,or H:
[C]: Set DHCP enable (will take effect on next boot).
[I]: Display hardware information.
[Q]: Quit this menu.
[H]: Display this list of options.
Enter S,T,C,D,I,Q,or H:
Select 1 (for 9600).
Please select serial console baudrate: [9600]
[1]: 9600
[2]: 19200
[3]: 38400
[4]: 57600
[5]: 115200
[2]: 19200
[3]: 38400
[4]: 57600
[5]: 115200
- Select Q twice to exit the boot menu and finish the FortiGate reboot.
Best practice for Terminal client communication parameters:
Data bits = 8
Stop bit = 1
Speed (baud) = 9600 baud (the FortiGate-300 uses 115,000 baud)
Parity = None
Flow Control = None