Can I use a different VPN Client instead of FortiClient?

[rigby]

Hi,

I had a chat with ChatGPT and it seems using IPSEC, custom VPN Tunnel, it is possible to use the native VPN client in MacOS or Windows.

ChatGPT even said, it is possible to configure both IPSEC, VPN Tunnel and SSL VPN.

Can someone please confirm this?

[GeorgeZhong]

We can configure the MAC OS or Windows OS as the VPN client by using their native VPN configuration to connect to FortiGate via IPsec. Instructions are as follow:

https://community.fortinet.com/t5/FortiGate/Technical-Tip-How-to-establish-VPN-connection-between-Wi...

https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortigate/7.4.4/administration-guide/311726/ios-device-as-dialup-...

[AEK]

Hi Rigby

In addition to George's feedback, on Linux I know at least two tools that works great with FortiGate: StrongSwan for IPsec and NetworkManager's fortisslvpn plugin for SSL VPN.

[Debbie_FTNT]

In general:

- IPSec VPN is a common standard, so any VPN client software capable of IPSec VPN should be compatible with FortiGate

- SSL VPN is NOT a common standard, the implementation we use is pretty much our own thing, so only FortiClient is compatible with FortiGate when it comes to SSLVPN

- native Windows/MacOS clients can work with IPSec setup on FortiGate as mentioned above

I hope this helps :)