FG-100D Fan noise? Sizing advices

[SMabille]

Hi, I' m researching the best Fortigate option for me. I would like to confirm how noisy the 100D is? Unfortunately noise is absent from the product matrix/tech specs. I' m getting fibre very soon, I' ll get 1Gb burst rate and expect average bandwidth to be around 250-400Mb/s. My options are either a 60D which is cheaper and fan-less but only 200 Mbps IPS or a 100D. But as the box will be in my living room, noise is a critical factor. How realistic the advertised IPS rates are in real-life? (Protection will be client only + SIP). Thanks, Stephane

[emnoc]

Noise is about what to be expected and is not loud. If this is racked in a server room, as typically done, it would not be noticeable. As far as IPS protection, the unit number are greatly reduce as you applies IPS sensors and to your rules. The unit b4 ips is way over 1gig but after IPS you would struggle to see 600mbps of thru-put if that. And that' s depending on the number of signature, and number of fwpolicies enabled. If you enable anything else, than reduce that number even farther. If your wishing to burst to the max of 1gig bandwidth, I highly think you will not achieve that goal. If IPS is your main security function & feature, and you want to achieve max thru-put & upto 1gig, than I would highly recommend the 300C. It does cost more, but the addition performance number with regards to ipsec,ssl, and ips is greatly appreciated and achievable. And the unit has more steam to push your IPS inspected traffic to 1+gig You might want to discuss these number over with your regional fortinet-partner and discuss what' s more required.

[RH2]

I have four 100d units sitting on my workbench running right now and I think they would be too loud for a living room. One 100d might be ok, but it would depend on the ambient noise level in the room. They are louder than my tower pc sitting next to them.

[SMabille]

Thanks. I' ll think I' ll get a 60D and optimise the IPS config if needed.

[julian67]

I’ve used both models in different setups. The 100D does make noticeable fan noise — not super loud like a server, but enough that it could be distracting in a quiet living room. The 60D is silent, which is great for home use, but yes, its IPS performance is limited. The advertised speeds are usually under ideal conditions, so in real life, you might see slightly lower performance, especially if multiple features are turned on. If noise is a deal-breaker, you might want to consider a newer, fanless model like the 60F — it’s quiet and handles higher speeds better. Hope this helps!