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jpapic
Explorer
February 27, 2026
Solved

FortiExterder - change ip

  • February 27, 2026
  • 6 replies
  • 311 views

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Hello everyone,

I’m currently working with a FortiExtender (FEX) using LTE connectivity, and I’m facing an issue related to public IP changes.

Every time the LTE provider assigns a new IP address, the connection drops completely. The only way to restore connectivity is by rebooting the FortiExtender.

Has anyone experienced a similar behavior?

I would like to understand:

  • Is this expected behavior with LTE dynamic IP?

  • Is there any configuration (keepalive, DPD, monitoring, etc.) that can prevent losing connectivity after an IP change?

  • Would enabling specific SD-WAN or tunnel monitoring settings help in this case?

Any recommendations or best practices would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Best answer by Jean-Philippe_P

Hello again jpapic,

 

I found this answer, can you tell us if it helps, please?

 

When dealing with LTE connectivity and dynamic IP addresses, it's not uncommon to experience issues like the ones you're facing. Here's a breakdown of the situation and some recommendations:

 

Expected Behavior with LTE Dynamic IP: 
Dynamic IP Changes: LTE connections often have dynamic IP addresses that can change based on the carrier's settings. This can lead to temporary disruptions in connectivity, especially if the IP change is not handled gracefully by the network devices.

 

Configuration Recommendations

  1. Dead Peer Detection (DPD): Ensure that DPD is enabled in your IPsec VPN configuration. DPD helps detect when a peer is no longer responding and can trigger a renegotiation of the tunnel.

  2. Auto-Negotiate: Enable auto-negotiate for phase 2 of your IPsec configuration. This setting allows the tunnel to automatically renegotiate when necessary, which can help maintain connectivity.

  3. Keepalive Settings: Implement keepalive settings to regularly check the status of the connection. This can help in quickly detecting and responding to changes in the network state.

  4. FortiGate VPN Event Logs: Monitor the FortiGate VPN event logs to identify if the tunnel up/down events correlate with LTE link state changes. This can provide insights into whether the IP changes are causing the disruptions.

 

SD-WAN and Tunnel Monitoring

  • SD-WAN: If you are using SD-WAN, ensure that it is configured to handle failover scenarios. SD-WAN can help manage multiple WAN links and provide redundancy, which might mitigate the impact of IP changes.

  • Tunnel Monitoring: Enable tunnel monitoring to continuously check the status of the VPN tunnel. This can help in quickly detecting when the tunnel goes down and initiate a reconnection process.

 

Best Practices

  • Regular Monitoring: Continuously monitor the LTE connection and VPN tunnel status to quickly identify and address issues.

  • Carrier Consultation: Consult with your LTE provider to understand their IP assignment policies and see if there are options for a more stable IP assignment, such as a static IP.

  • Firmware Updates: Ensure that your FortiExtender and FortiGate devices are running the latest firmware versions, as updates often include improvements and bug fixes related to connectivity.

 

Follow-ups and Clarification Questions

  • Have you checked the FortiGate VPN event logs for any specific error messages when the connection drops?
  • Are there any specific configurations in place for DPD or auto-negotiate on your IPsec VPN?
  • Is SD-WAN currently configured and in use in your network setup?
  • Have you reached out to your LTE provider regarding the frequency of IP changes and potential solutions?

These steps and considerations should help in addressing the connectivity issues you're experiencing with the FortiExtender and LTE dynamic IP changes.

6 replies

Jean-Philippe_P
Staff & Editor
Staff & Editor
March 2, 2026

Hello jpapic, 

 

Thank you for using the Community Forum. I will seek to get you an answer or help. We will reply to this thread with an update as soon as possible. 

Jean-Philippe - Fortinet Community Team
jpapic
jpapicAuthor
Explorer
March 2, 2026

Thanks.

Jean-Philippe_P
Staff & Editor
Staff & Editor
March 3, 2026

Hello,

 

We are still looking for an answer to your question.

 

We will come back to you ASAP.

Jean-Philippe - Fortinet Community Team
Jean-Philippe_P
Staff & Editor
Staff & Editor
March 4, 2026

Hello again jpapic,

 

I found this answer, can you tell us if it helps, please?

 

When dealing with LTE connectivity and dynamic IP addresses, it's not uncommon to experience issues like the ones you're facing. Here's a breakdown of the situation and some recommendations:

 

Expected Behavior with LTE Dynamic IP: 
Dynamic IP Changes: LTE connections often have dynamic IP addresses that can change based on the carrier's settings. This can lead to temporary disruptions in connectivity, especially if the IP change is not handled gracefully by the network devices.

 

Configuration Recommendations

  1. Dead Peer Detection (DPD): Ensure that DPD is enabled in your IPsec VPN configuration. DPD helps detect when a peer is no longer responding and can trigger a renegotiation of the tunnel.

  2. Auto-Negotiate: Enable auto-negotiate for phase 2 of your IPsec configuration. This setting allows the tunnel to automatically renegotiate when necessary, which can help maintain connectivity.

  3. Keepalive Settings: Implement keepalive settings to regularly check the status of the connection. This can help in quickly detecting and responding to changes in the network state.

  4. FortiGate VPN Event Logs: Monitor the FortiGate VPN event logs to identify if the tunnel up/down events correlate with LTE link state changes. This can provide insights into whether the IP changes are causing the disruptions.

 

SD-WAN and Tunnel Monitoring

  • SD-WAN: If you are using SD-WAN, ensure that it is configured to handle failover scenarios. SD-WAN can help manage multiple WAN links and provide redundancy, which might mitigate the impact of IP changes.

  • Tunnel Monitoring: Enable tunnel monitoring to continuously check the status of the VPN tunnel. This can help in quickly detecting when the tunnel goes down and initiate a reconnection process.

 

Best Practices

  • Regular Monitoring: Continuously monitor the LTE connection and VPN tunnel status to quickly identify and address issues.

  • Carrier Consultation: Consult with your LTE provider to understand their IP assignment policies and see if there are options for a more stable IP assignment, such as a static IP.

  • Firmware Updates: Ensure that your FortiExtender and FortiGate devices are running the latest firmware versions, as updates often include improvements and bug fixes related to connectivity.

 

Follow-ups and Clarification Questions

  • Have you checked the FortiGate VPN event logs for any specific error messages when the connection drops?
  • Are there any specific configurations in place for DPD or auto-negotiate on your IPsec VPN?
  • Is SD-WAN currently configured and in use in your network setup?
  • Have you reached out to your LTE provider regarding the frequency of IP changes and potential solutions?

These steps and considerations should help in addressing the connectivity issues you're experiencing with the FortiExtender and LTE dynamic IP changes.

Jean-Philippe - Fortinet Community Team
jpapic
jpapicAuthor
Explorer
March 5, 2026

Thanks for the info.!!

Jean-Philippe_P
Staff & Editor
Staff & Editor
March 6, 2026

Glad it could help!

Jean-Philippe - Fortinet Community Team
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