Technical Tip: FortiGate Flash Format process

[akawade]

Description
This article describes how to Flash Format the Fortigate when required.

Solution
The Flash Format is required when the device is not accessible via GUI and CLI too, however when the console cable is connected, it shows the Booting sequence.

The Flash Format step is also required when the incorrect upgrade path has been followed on the device for the upgrade, even though the device working fine now, however it may behave abnormally in future.
Therefore, it is recommended to Flash format the device for wrong upgrade, load the Firmware on it though tftp server and perform the configuration from scratch on the device or Load the config backup file of the same firmware as of device after the Flash Format.

For the Flash format process, the console cable needs to be connected to the FortiGate and Local PC.

Once connected, the booting sequence will be displayed in the console screen and it will be possible to interrupt the booting sequence by pressing any key.

The Example of the Booting sequence is as follows :

FortiGate-200D (18:47-05.08.2013)
Ver:04000006
Serial number:FG200D46138xxxxx
RAM activation
CPU(00:000206a7 bfebfbff): MP initialization
CPU(02:000206a7 bfebfbff): MP initialization
Total RAM: 2048MB
Enabling cache...Done.
Scanning PCI bus...Done.
Allocating PCI resources...Done.
Enabling PCI resources...Done.
Zeroing IRQ settings...Done.
Verifying PIRQ tables...Done.
Boot up, boot device capacity: 15272MB.


Press any key to display configuration menu...                <----- Here, it need to interrupt the boot sequence by pressing any key from the keyboard.
[G]:  Get firmware image from TFTP server.
[F]:  Format boot device.                                     <----- To Start the Format
[B]:  Boot with backup firmware and set as default.
[I]:  Configuration and information.
[Q]:  Quit menu and continue to boot with default firmware.
[H]:  Display this list of options.

Enter option "F" to start the Formatting of the device

It will ask permission and it will be required to allow the same and enter Y or Yes as it prompt, once the required key/s are entered, the process will start and will take some time to complete the process.
Once done, the device will get boot up and then it will be possible to load the firmware using the TFTP server.

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Technical Tip: Formatting and loading FortiGate firmware image using TFTP