Technical Tip: Hardware-switch option is missing while creating a new interface

FortiGate.

Creating a new interface with 'Type: Hardware-switch' is not possible as the 'Hardware-switch' option is missing.

This is because by default globally 'virtual-vlan-switch' is enabled.

In this case only the 'vlan-switch' option will be given.

If hardware-switch option is a requirement then the vlan-switch option should be disabled globally.

Follow the below CLI commands to achieve the very same.

config system global

     set virtual-switch-vlan disable

  end

To disable virtual-switch-vlan from the GUI, go to System -> Settings and disable VLAN switch mode:

Now when tried to create a new interface, 'Type: Hardware-switch' option shows up as expected.

Note: At any given point of time, either hardware-switch or vlan-switch can be chosen.

After running the above specified CLI commands, the following alert will appear:

'This change will disable trunk on interfaces and remove VLAN from virtual switches. If you don't want it to be changed, type "abort" '.