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kdot
kdot
Explorer
May 14, 2026
Question

FS108 - Cannot access 192.168.1.99 for inital setup

  • May 14, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 77 views

Have an FS108.

Reset the FS108 to factory defaults using paperclip + reset button.

Manually assigned my laptop Ethernet adapter IP address 192.168.1.1 mask 255.255.255.0 GW 192.168.1.99

Connected Ethernet cable between my laptop and port 1 on FS108.

Open browser, go to http://192.168.1.99 and nothing. Also tried https...still nothing.

Console to FS108 and exec factoryreset and factoryresetfull ….still nothing. 

I could set this up using the console, but I’d really like to know why it is not working as advertised.

I have many more FS108’s to deploy and need to figure out if the “Easy FortiSwitch Setup” is not going to be so easy.

    3 replies

    Anthony_E
    Staff
    Anthony_E
    Staff
    May 15, 2026

    Hi,

    Could you please have a look at this KB article?:

     

    Anthony

    Best Regards
    kdot
    kdotAuthor
    Explorer
    May 15, 2026

    Hi Anthony,

    Thank you for your reply and Tech Tip link. Although the instruction in the Tech Tip are for a FortiGate, they appear very similar to FS108 initial setup instructions. Unfortunately, I’ve followed the instructions and not able to ping 192.168.1.99 or reach it via web browser using HTTP/HTTPS.

    gstefou
    gstefou
    Explorer
    May 15, 2026

    Hi there, 

    First off, it’s not necessary to set a gateway IP to your laptop’s NIC. 
    Can you ping the Switch default IP from your computer? 

    Some of the switch models have a dedicated management physical port. If that’s the case, you will need to connect your laptop to that port instead of any other port. 

    kdot
    kdotAuthor
    Explorer
    May 15, 2026

    Thanks gstefou,

    Does setting the gateway cause problems? If not, I don’t mind the extra keystrokes to make sure I’m following the instructions as documented.

    https://community.fortinet.com/fortigate%2D3/technical%2Dtip%2Dfortigate%2Dinitial%2Dconfiguration%2D149437

    I am not able to ping the switch default IP from my computer. The FS108 does not have a dedicated management port, so I’m going with port 1 (although I’ve tested on a few different fixed copper ports).

    gstefou
    gstefou
    Explorer
    May 17, 2026


    No, this shouldn’t cause any problem. 
    Since you cannot even ping the switch to it’s default IP the connection between them is your problem. When you try to access your switch, is there any other NIC enabled? I have had issues where i had my laptop connected to my WiFi network and it was searching for the switch there because they are using the same internal subnet scheme. 

    Another thing you can try is to flash your switch’s Firmware with a brand new one using TFTP. All firmware is available on Fortinet’s support page if you have registered your switch with your FortiCloud account. 

    One question, when you console into the switch, what’s the “internal” interface IP configuration you’re seeing in there? 
    There have been instances where my switch was getting an address from my DHCP server after a factory reset. 

    ebilcari
    Staff
    ebilcari
    Staff
    May 15, 2026

    You may need to try with https, all the other steps you have followed are the same as shown the QuickStart Guide (page 11).

    Are these new switches, or are they existing switches that have been repurposed?

    Emirjon
      kdot
      kdotAuthor
      Explorer
      May 15, 2026

      Hi Emirjon,

      I’ve tried HTTP and HTTPS but no luck with either. 

      Good question about the switches being new or repurposed, and something I should have included in my original post. These switches are repurposed. We bought the switches new, deployed them at one of our sites, and now repurposing to use at a different site.

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