Firmware difference 4.0 vs 7.2

[maatohewetbi]

Hello Forti Guys and girls. I have 2 Fortinet devices, 60C and 40F. I want to use 60C as a lab device to test some features, routing policies. But there is a problem. They both have different firmwares. While 60C has 4.0 (can bu updated to 5.2.13) the 40F has 7.2. So there is a question: is there any major differences between two firmwares, mainly differencese in firewall, routing policies? I want to test policies in 60C and then make the same in 40F. Of course I have to make some changes, like interface's names and others.

Have a nice weekend!

[Toshi_Esumi]

4.0 is at least 10+ years old. Probably not much newer than Apple iPhone 4 came out. And you're asking like "any difference between iPhone 4 and 14(2022)-16(current)?". At least I don't have the answer you're expecting.

However, you don't have any UTM features on 60C any more. So only you can do is allowing/blocking based on IPs. It's safe to say that part would never change. For routing, 4.0 still probably had a lot of questionable implemenation&behaviors for routing protocol like BGP, maybe OSPF is better than BGP. But static routing would never change. Policy routing is also probably the same except some possible bugs. But these are just my guess.

But then, even if some design you intended to test works in your LAB with 60C, would you consider it guarantees the same design on the 40F w/ 7.2.x works in the production environment? Good luck.
Instead, I would recommend finding an used 60E w/ 7.2.x on a secondhand market, which would be as low as US$50. Not sure the price in your country though.If it's business purpose it would justify the cost. 

Toshi

[DPadula · Accepted solution]

Hi Maatohewetbi, 

Besides the hardware difference, we have developed a lot our documentation since version 4.0. 
So to find document related to the latest product will be easier than any document regarding version 4.0. You should upgrade your hardware as suggested before to have a more real scenario and access to new features/documentation. 

[maatohewetbi]

Thank You for You help. I really appreciate Your help. Have a nice day.