Description | This article explains how to connect to FortiGuard Services when Internet traffic is routed via SD-WAN IPSec VPN remote site B. Error message 'Unable to Connect to FortiGuard Servers' shows on the FortiGate Dashboard of site A. |
Scope | FortiGate. |
Solution |
Scenario:
In cases where the Internet access is routed to an SD-WAN IPSec VPN tunnel interfaces to a remote site B when BGP is used as the routing protocol and it advertises the default route to site A, with site A having the public circuits over which the tunnels are attached, sometimes there's a requirement to split FortiGuard traffic at site A to locally update licenses and security databases, rather than going to the remote site B.
Solution:
In the above cases, at site A create a static route using a public interface with a low distance, lower than the 200 distance of the BGP default route, set the destination to the FortiGuard FQDNs (see relevant article below), and adjust the FortiGuard configuration.
Relevant configuration excerpts from FortiGate at site A (port1 is the public interface):
config firewall address edit "service.fortiguard.net" set type fqdn set associated-interface "port1" set allow-routing enable set fqdn "service.fortiguard.net" next edit "securewf.fortiguard.net" set type fqdn set associated-interface "port1" set allow-routing enable set fqdn "securewf.fortiguard.net" next edit "update.fortiguard.net" set type fqdn set associated-interface "port1" set allow-routing enable set fqdn "update.fortiguard.net" next end end
config firewall addrgrp edit "FortiGuard_FQDNs" set allow-routing enable set member "service.fortiguard.net" "securewf.fortiguard.net" "update.fortiguard.net" "usupdate.fortinet.net" "usservice.fortiguard.net" "ussecurewf.fortiguard.net" <fqdn> <fqdn>............." next end set gateway 10.9.15.254 set device "port1" set dstaddr "FortiGuard_FQDNs" next end
Routing table for VRF=0 .
On configuring the above, the error message at site A 'Unable to Connect to Fortiguard Servers' will disappear from the dashboard, and the licenses and security databases will be updated locally at site A rather than via site B.
Note: It is necessary to use the relevant FortiGuard FQDNs from the link below to match the geolocation configuration and requirements.
Related articles: Troubleshooting Tip: FortiGate FortiGuard Servers |
The Fortinet Security Fabric brings together the concepts of convergence and consolidation to provide comprehensive cybersecurity protection for all users, devices, and applications and across all network edges.
Copyright 2025 Fortinet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.