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.
sfrati
Staff
Staff
Article Id 318422
Description

This article explains how to work around the error message 'Could not connect to the FortiManager to retrieve its serial number' when trying to register a FortiGate to a FortiManager 7.2.5.

Scope

fgfmd protocol introduces in 7.2.5 a new by-default verification of the CN or SAN (see Special Notices in Release Notes) to enforce additional security level and avoid MITM issues when a new devices tries to establish a new connection or registration.

 

By default, this verification is enabled and FortiManager checks if subject CN or SAN of the FortiGate.

Also, FortiGate checks the Serial Number in the certificate presented by the FortiManger, as this is dual side authentication.

 

When configuring in the CLI on the FortiGate the FortiManager for central management, it is possible to set the serial number of the FortiManager expected to be presented in the certificate.

 

show sys central-management
config system central-management
    set type fortimanager
    set schedule-config-restore disable
    set schedule-script-restore disable
    set serial-number "FMG-VM0A12345678"
    set fmg "10.5.58.190"
end

 

If a typo is made on the serial number or a change was made from having one FortiManager to another one for central management, this error message will appear.

 
Solution

On the FortiGate: using the CLI, it is possible to edit or to unset the serial number expected for the FortiManager.

 

config system central-management
    unset serial-number
end

 

Refreshing the GUI, a pop-up window should warn the administrator and ask for confirmation.

Select Accept after checking the serial number on the FortiManager.

 

pic02.png

 

On the FortiManager: It is possible to disable this new feature and return to previous 7.2.4 behavior using this CLI command, as well as to allow registration from any node of the cluster:

 

config system global

set fgfm-peercert-withoutsn enable

end

 

With this option enabled, FortiManager will not proceed to perform additional checks if the Serial Number of the requesting device and the one displayed in the certificate exactly match.

 

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