Forti Mail "No license" error on Dashboard for Virus Outbreak & Antispam

[NeoRant]

Good day,

This is URGENT.

I am seeing “No license” for features Virus Outbreak & Antispam. These features were always in the green during my 2024 subscription and even after renewal license in January 2025. Last time I checked, even last week, these 2 features were in the green/licensed. I Logged on this morning and now realizing this.

What is the cause for this change?

Contact Fortinet support or something i can do from cli etc.?

This is very strange. HELP!

[NeoRant · Accepted solution]

Issue resolved.

Solution:

Using the GUI console, go to "System > FortiGuard", select the tab "AntiSpam". Now, change "FortiGuard server port" value form 53 to 8888 and click on "Apply". Now click on "Update Now" and wait for 5 minutes

[AEK]

Hi NeoRant

Happy to see your issue is resolved.

But what I find strange is that ports 53 & 8888 should not be involved in license validation, while 443 & 8890 are.

Below port ref from admin guide.

https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortimail/7.4.1/administration-guide/122044

443 or 8890	TCP	Fortinet	FortiGuard Antivirus engine and virus signature updates (see also Required URLs for FortiGuard services) License validation
53 or 8888	UDP or TCP	FortiGuard Antispam rating query

[NeoRant]

Hi AEK,

I fully understand. However, that is what was instructed to be used by Fortinet when setting up the Fortimail.

Kindly see below final response from Fortinet to the ticket I created related to this problem:

Hello,

Thanks for the feedback.

We cannot explain exactly what happened with port 53 due to factors beyond our control, such as the ISP or border/edge devices. We've observed that sometimes the used port (53, 8888, etc) is inhibited and we only change it and FML connects again with FortiGuard. In fact, if you return the port 53 again, the connection won't be affected and will work again using that port 53.

We proceed to close the ticket, and we would appreciate if you could take a moment to answer the "customer satisfaction" survey that will be sent to your email once the ticket is closed. The information provided will help to improve the support offered. The next link can help you to know how to evaluate the TAC service:

https://community.fortinet.com/t5/Customer-Service/Technical-Tip-How-to-Rate-Fortinet-TAC-Service/ta...

Thank you again for contacting us.

Greetings,

FORTINET | LATAM TAC

☏ Support Center:+1 408-542-7780

https://support.fortinet.com

https://community.fortinet.com

[AEK]

Thanks for sharing.

Sometimes I want to say:

Theory is when you know everything but nothing works. Practice is when everything works but no one knows why. In our lab, theory and practice are combined: nothing works and nobody knows why.

[NeoRant]

No problem. I fully agree with those words. Thank you AEK for your invaluable support throughout my time here on Fortinet Community. I am loving it here. I have learned a lot.