FortiGate
FortiGate Next Generation Firewall utilizes purpose-built security processors and threat intelligence security services from FortiGuard labs to deliver top-rated protection and high performance, including encrypted traffic.
ighita
Staff
Staff
Article Id 190262

Description
This article describes formatting a hard disk on the FortiGate unit. Usually, the FortiGate hard disk only needs to be reformatted if:

    - The disk detected is faulty.
    - The operating system has been modified.
    - The disk is full or FortiOS does not recognise the drive.

This procedure can be used in case of an issue encountered during the standard formatting procedure described in the related article "Technical Note : Standard procedure to format a FortiGate Hard Disk"
Solution

Note: If you are uncertain on completing these steps, contact your distributor or partner to assist you.

Procedure:

Reformatting the FortiGate hard disk involves the following steps:

    - Download the format image for the proper FortiGate unit.
    - Reboot the FortiGate unit.
    - Interrupt the boot sequence.
    - Load the format image.

Prerequisite:

    - Plan this operation during downtime as a traffic outage will occur.
    - In case it is require to reload a previously backed-up configuration file, ensure it matches the firmware version that will be installed.
    - If there is a chance that the configuration file is corrupted, reconfigure the FortiGate from its default settings.
    - Eventually, make screenshots of the FortiGate configuration in case it is needed to rebuild it from scratch.

The following procedure will format and destroy all data (logs and quarantined files) which may have been previously stored on the hard disk.

CAUTION: Download the image below according to operating OS version.

To download the image, go to https://support.fortinet.com/Download/FirmwareImages.aspx

Load format image. Power off the FortiGate unit and use the following:

- Terminal client (Windows HyperTerminal, Linux Minicom...)

       - Speed 9600 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop for all FortiGate, except FortiGate 300: 115000-8-n-1
       - Speed 115000 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop for all FortiManager
       - ASCII setup : Append line feeds to incoming lines
       - Log messages to file

    - Null modem serial cable (provided with the FortiGate)
    - Provide a fixed IP address to the PC, for example 192.168.1.168
    - A TFTP server running on a PC
    - Cross-over network cable to connect directly the FortiGate to the PC running the TFTP server

- Connect the PC LAN interface using an Ethernet cable to:

    "Interface Internal", On models 200, 300, 500, 800, 800F
    "Interface Internal 4 ", On models 100A, 200A, 300,
    "LAN Interface port1", On models 300A, 400, 400A, 500A, 1000 and higher
    "LAN2", On FortiLog 800


To load the firmware:

        1) Power on the FortiGate Unit
        2) Press any key at when Press Any Key To Download Boot Image.... message appears
        3) Enter tftp server address [192.168.1.168]: 192.168.1.168
        4) Enter local address [192.168.1.188]: 192.168.1.188
        5) Enter File Name [image.out]: image name.out
        6) Press R to run the Hardisk Format image

Reboot the FortiGate and the log disk should be available. Check using the CLI command 'get sys stat'.

FortiLog 100 and FortiLog 400 format image:

    - Upload a format image to the FortiLog unit using a TFTP server.
    - To use the following procedure, TFTP server, that the FortiLog unit can connect to, is needed. The TFTP server IP address must be 192.168.1.168

To upload the firmware image to the FortiLog unit:

        1) Make sure the TFTP server is running.
        2) Copy the format image file to the root directory of the TFTP server. Ensure the file name is image.out.
        3) Start the FortiLog unit.
        4) As the FortiLog unit starts, the following message appears on the LCD pannel:
        5) Press any key to begin download.
        6) Immediately press a button on the FortiLog unit to begin the automatic download.


The FortiLog unit connects to the TFTP server and begins downloading the firmware image. Once downloaded, the FortiLog will load the firmware and proceed with the system startup.
 
REPORT

    - Configure the product. Problem not Resolved: go to Advanced Hardware Test
    - Configure the product. Problem Resolved: END

 

Related Articles

Troubleshooting Tip : Message 'invalid compressed format' or 'incomplete literal tree' during TFTP p...

Technical Tip: Standard procedure to format a FortiGate Log Disk

Contributors