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Visitor II
August 31, 2026
Question

FortiGate-VM under Hyper-V, evaluation license fails + Web GUI loops at login

  • August 31, 2026
  • 10 replies
  • 169 views

Hello!
I just recently downloaded the Hyper-V image for FortiGate-VM, version 8.

The VM boots fine, no issues, the CLI is accessible through SSH.

When comes time to apply the evaluation license, it seems to fail (using the “exec vm-license-options” command).
On the Web GUI, the evaluation license seems to apply (by logging in with my Fortinet account) but after a reboot, it says “No License” in the system status.
Then, in the Web GUI, I login, briefly see the “what’s new” video pop up and then it pops back to the login screen.

Any ideas?
Thanks!

EDIT: I forgot to add that when running “exec vm-license” it requires a token, which I do not have.

10 replies

funkylicious
SuperUser
SuperUser
August 31, 2026

the token should be the 2FA that you use on Fortinet Support Portal login for the account used to activate the trial which can be set as described here

 

 

"jack of all trades, master of none"
Visitor II
August 31, 2026

That makes sense, thank you ​@funkylicious .

Result :
 

FGVMEV6QTRV5Q68D # exec vm-license-options account-id xxxxx@xxxxx.com

FGVMEV6QTRV5Q68D # exec vm-license-options account-password xxxxx

FGVMEV6QTRV5Q68D # exec vm-license ######
This operation will reboot the system !
Do you want to continue? (y/n)y

Failed to download VM license.

FGVMEV6QTRV5Q68D #

In my Fortinet Support portal, I do see the serial number:
 

 

Visitor II
August 31, 2026

Pinging of the following is successful:

  • fds1.fortinet.com
  • directregistration.fortinet.com
  • globalftm.fortinet.net
Visitor II
August 31, 2026

It seems like Fortinet doesn’t recognize the UUID or serial, because it cannot grab the eval license.
I have downloaded the License File through the link on the Fortinet Support Portal, then used an FTP server to “restore” it to the Fortigate-VM.
It seems to have gone “ok” since it rebooted after.

However, status is still the same after that reboot.

Running the command 
diagnose debug vm-print-license

returns this
SerialNumber: FGVMEV6QTRV5Q68D

UUID: 629e43768ca54e60bb57553fc5685cad

Cert/Key: yes

Cert2/Key2: yes

Signature: yes

Model: INVAL (0)

CPU: 0

MEM: 0

VDOM license:

permanent: 10

subscription: 0

 

Visitor II
September 1, 2026

This is getting weirder. See the screenshot, it shows the SSH access to the FortiGate-VM on the left, and the Hyper-V console to the same VM on the right.


I’m thinking maybe there’s a similar problem with the HTTPS access?

mrcode47
New Member
September 1, 2026

I have the exact same results between console access via Hyper-V and SSH (Putty). 
Seems anything you try to access via the IP interface, it logs out and doesn't see the valid license.
Mostly https access, this even happens if you load the *.lic file from your FortiCloud account via TFTP server. 
Same results, doesn't update the license via IP access/permitted.

Visitor II
September 1, 2026

I noticed that if I login to HTTPS, I still get the loopback to the login screen, but I tried hitting the Back button of the browser.
Now I see a dashboard, but with all widgets in a “loading” state, for about 10 seconds, then back to login screen with the message “Your session has expired”.
 

 

New Member
September 8, 2026

I have the same problem. 

Teodoro
New Member
September 9, 2026

I have the same problem logging in. Has anyone managed to solve it?

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