Snapdragon ARM Won't Pass Traffic

[BryanV]

We have a Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X-Elite (ARM) processor that we are testing out. The one problem we haven't been able to overcome is getting the Forticlient to work reliably. We've followed this tech tip:

https://community.fortinet.com/t5/FortiClient/Technical-Tip-FortiClient-Support-for-ARM-Architecture...

Using the Windows Store Forticlient app and the Windows VPN settings, we can establish a connection every time. I can even get Azure MFA to work, though you have to establish the connection in the settings app or you won't get the prompt for the OTP. The problem is that probably 99% of the time, the connection shows traffic being sent but none received and after about 5 minutes it will disconnect itself. About 1% of the time, the connection works fine and will stay connected for at least an hour, we haven't tested past that.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be the problem here? I'm not even sure where to look for logs. I can see events in the Application log of it establishing the connection and disconnecting, but there aren't any errors and no details about the negotiations. We'd really like to get this working reliably, even if it requires a work-around. Thank you in advance.

[MichaelS11]

Please do not waste your time.  I have spent a month trying to get this working to no avail.  Fortinet do not support the ARM processor.  My suggestion is to get your organisation to move to OpenVPN.  Fortinet promote themselves as the premier leader in VPN, I say they are the premier leader in ZERO customer support.

[btan]

Please listen to MichaelS11. Stop trying to make FortiClient work on ARM processor machine, because it is not supported. 

This is like trying to play PS5 game on Xbox, when the game is published for PlayStation platform only.

There is roadmap developing FCT for ARM, but unfortunately there is no ETA yet.

[btan]

Kindly stop trying until you see below remark is gone in future Release Notes:
*FortiClient (Windows) does not support ARM-based processors.
https://docs.fortinet.com/document/forticlient/7.2.5/windows-release-notes/549781/product-integratio...

[JW60]

Hi Bryan,

I have done some research on the processor and VPN’s. Forti is not the only VPN issue. Companies such as NordVpn also does not install on the chipset and from what I can find, has not currently found the demand to justify the R&D time. 

Apparently, there is a business version of the Microsoft Laptop 7 coming in Q4 that will be based on an Intel Chipset. 

I’m waiting. 

[BryanV]

OK, how about I rephrase the question. Is there a way to get a VPN connection without the Forticlient? IPSec? OpenVPN? Standard Windows Connection?