Free VPN Forticlient asks for license

[Joachim]

I wanted to test a new version of Forticlient and somehow must have downloaded the wrong version, which showed me EMS and an expiration date. I uninstalled, rebooted and installed the correct VPN only version from https://www.fortinet.com/support/product-downloads#vpn, same problem.

I uninstalled, rebooted, cleaned registry, appdata, program files and program data from Fortinet/FortiClient entries. Reboot, reinistall of the old 6.4.8 VPN only client that I had saved on my hard drive.

Now also 6.4.8 shows me EMS and shows an expiration date.

Since I use for sure the free VPN only version, why does it ask for a license file? Where is the config stored that it lets the free version assume its the not free version?

[R_F · Accepted solution]

Hi,this is what Im referring for where you can download (support.fortinet.com) and  test FC with VPN function only. Pls see attached file for reference.

[Joachim]

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@Debbie_FTNT wrote:

Hey Joachim,

thanks for clarifying.

That is rather weird. I tested on a lab Windows VM (Windows 10) to see if this is a common issue - downloaded the Online Installer for the full version, installed it, removed it (just via uninstall option, I did NOT go to the same extent as you did), and then downloaded and installed the VPN only version.
I did end up with a VPN only FortiClient without any issues, so I'm really not sure what's going on.

Perhaps the version differences, between your full 6.4.8 and online VPN only 7.0, are causing this weird behavior?

You did install the full 7.0 version, removed that, and then tried the VPN-only 7.0 version, correct? The only difference in my lab is that I did not have previous 6.4.8 installation?

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Yes, exactly. I also changed the windows user, but still the same problem. So its not a user setting. What must be true: there is no "VPN only version". Obviously all versions are full versions, but some trigger changes it to the full version. You can also check the file size: its the same for FortiClient.msi and FortiClientVPN.msi (6.4.8)

Maybe I'm stuck now since the expiration date ran out?

I think only Fortinet knows the answer, but they dont provide support for the free version. The problem is, that I'm forced no to reinstall every month because of the expiration date. This might be even a license violation, but I simply cant get the "VPN Only" version running anymore.

[Joachim]

After researching more, this also happens to linux clients: (1) Forticlient free version expires - Fortinet Community
They solved it by "removing the folder in  ~/.config/FortiClient".

As I said, i removed everything I found in Program Files, Program Files (X86), Programm Data, App Data (all 3 profiles) and Registry that starts with Forti. So there must be another entry with a different name.

[Debbie_FTNT]

I am in fact with Fortinet, but I don't know the solution, sorry.

Regarding clients being the same and just having different features enabled - I think this is true for 6.4.8, but almost certainly NOT for 7.0, the offline installers I can see on internal pages are different in size (full client has about 50MB more).

However, that's not entirely relevant to the issue at hand.

If you want, I can provide you with the current VPN-only offline installer to see if that helps with getting you the VPN-only feature set and no warnings regarding EMS registration.

Other than that, I can check in the lab, when I can find the time: do an installation of 6.4.8 first and then redo the full/VPN only installation to see if I can reproduce this.

If you have a Fortinet product registered on the download site, you can also download it there:

[Joachim]

"I am in fact with Fortinet, but I don't know the solution, sorry."
I'm sorry, I was not aware of that!

"If you want, I can provide you with the current VPN-only offline installer to see if that helps with getting you the VPN-only feature set and no warnings regarding EMS registration."

That would be great, thank you :) Can you share it please with OneDrive etc?

[Debbie_FTNT]

Hey Joachim,

I have shared a download link via PM.

Let us know how it goes.

Regarding this:
"After researching more, this also happens to linux clients: (1) Forticlient free version expires - Fortinet Community
They solved it by "removing the folder in  ~/.config/FortiClient".

As I said, i removed everything I found in Program Files, Program Files (X86), Programm Data, App Data (all 3 profiles) and Registry that starts with Forti. So there must be another entry with a different name."
I haven't been able to find anything in internal documentation as yet, apologies :/.
Removing anything with 'Forti' should be very thorough. You could also check for FTNT (common appreviation for Fortinet) or FCT (common abbreviation for FortiClient), but other than that, I'm really not sure, sorry :/.

[Joachim]

Sadly cant install

[Joachim · Accepted solution]

Thank your for providing FortiClientVPNSetup_7.0.6.0290_x64.exe
This finally solved the issue!
So there seems to be a problem with the normal download link for VPN only, because it did install the full version. Maybe you could take a look into that?

Thank you so much :)

[Debbie_FTNT]

Great that the file is working for you :)

@R_F you can only download FortiClient installer from there if you have a Fortinet device registered in your support account, otherwise the download section is completely inaccessible, and those people need to rely on the online installer from forticlient.com
There is in fact a reason I provided Joachim a direct link to download, given the issues faced with online installer :)

[R_F]

Hi @Debbie_FTNT , thank you for pointing us to the right direction. :)

It was just a typical response since I was in that situation before. Again I am glad you are able to solved OP problem. Kudos to you.

[R_F · Accepted solution]

Hi,this is what Im referring for where you can download (support.fortinet.com) and  test FC with VPN function only. Pls see attached file for reference.