Unable to register for permanent FG VM trial

Hi,

I'm trying to register Fortigate VM for permanent free trial, but unable to do so because of unsupported serial error.

I downloaded FGT_VM64_HV-v7.6.1.F-build3457-FORTINET.out.hyperv.zip zip from Fortinet support site. Created VM with 1 CPU, 2048 RAM and with 2 nic.

I first I tried to register from command line without success:

# get system status Version: FortiGate-VM64-HV v7.6.1,build3457,241127 (GA.F) First GA patch build date: 240724 Security Level: High Firmware Signature: certified Virus-DB: 1.00000(2018-04-09 18:07) Extended DB: 1.00000(2018-04-09 18:07) Extreme DB: 1.00000(2018-04-09 18:07) AV AI/ML Model: 0.00000(2001-01-01 00:00) IPS-DB: 6.00741(2015-12-01 02:30) IPS-ETDB: 6.00741(2015-12-01 02:30) APP-DB: 6.00741(2015-12-01 02:30) Proxy-IPS-DB: 6.00741(2015-12-01 02:30) Proxy-IPS-ETDB: 6.00741(2015-12-01 02:30) Proxy-APP-DB: 6.00741(2015-12-01 02:30) FMWP-DB: 0.00000(2001-01-01 00:00) IPS Malicious URL Database: 1.00001(2015-01-01 01:01) IoT-Detect: 0.00000(2022-08-17 17:31) OT-Detect-DB: 0.00000(2001-01-01 00:00) OT-Patch-DB: 0.00000(2001-01-01 00:00) OT-Threat-DB: 6.00741(2015-12-01 02:30) IPS-Engine: 7.01026(2024-11-14 23:09) Serial-Number: <serial> License Status: Invalid VM Resources: 1 CPU/1 allowed, 1929 MB RAM/2048 MB allowed Log hard disk: Available Hostname: FortiGate-VM64-HV Operation Mode: NAT Current virtual domain: root Max number of virtual domains: 2 Virtual domains status: 1 in NAT mode, 0 in TP mode Virtual domain configuration: disable FIPS-CC mode: disable Current HA mode: standalone Branch point: 3457 Release Version Information: GA FortiOS x86-64: Yes System time: Sat Jan 25 05:54:51 2025 Last reboot reason: warm reboot  FortiGate-VM64-HV # diagnose debug vm-print-license SerialNumber: <serial> CreateDate: Sat Jan 25 05:02:13 2025 Model: EVAL (1) CPU: 1 MEM: 2048 VDOM license:   permanent: 2   subscription: 0  FortiGate-VM64-HV # diagnose hardware sysinfo vm full UUID:     <uid> valid:    0 status:   3 code:     202 warn:     0 copy:     0 received: 4294940600 warning:  4294940600 recv:     202501251338 dup:  # execute vm-license-options account-id <user> # execute vm-license-options account-password <passwordWithSpecialCharacters> # execute vm-license This VM is using the evaluation license. This license does not expire. Limitations of the Evaluation VM license include:   1.Support for low encryption operation only   2.Maximum of 1 CPU and 2GiB of memory   3.Maximum of three interfaces, firewall policies, and routes each   4.No FortiCare Support This operation will reboot the system ! Do you want to continue? (y/n)y  Failed to download VM license.

After that i tried same thing from Web Gui without success. After digging to http 500 response i found this:


I would assume serial number is being auto generated during first setup and end user can't change it. Serial numbers syntax seems "reasonable". My account is new and doesn't have existing trials registered.

I must say that this isn't best user experience.