Using straight cable with FG-TRAN-GC

[aagrafi]

Hello,

Do you know if a straight UTP cable can be used for connecting two FortiGates (FG-3000D in particular) with RJ-45 SFP modules FG-TRAN-GC or do we need a crossover cable to do that? In other words, does the FG-TRAN-GC support back to back connections with straight cable or not?

Thanks

[tanr]

I *think* I connected a 300D and 100D that way a while back during some configuration testing, but that was 2 years back so you probably don't want to trust my memory.

[aagrafi]

I trust your memory, but in your case the other side (100D) was in native RJ-45 port, not SFP. So I suppose that the RJ-45 port at the 100D side was able to cope with the straight cable.

Thanks anyway ;)

[tanr]

I was actually testing the SFP ports on the 100D too, so IIRC both devices were connected through their SFP ports with the FG-TRAN-GC adapter.

But I'd check with TAC to confirm.

[Kenundrum]

I have two 500Ds chained together through SFP RJ45 adapters (FG-TRAN-GC) for HA with normal cables and have no problems getting a link. In general, any gigabit ethernet equipment should handle auto-crossover as auto-MDIX is part of the standard. I believe it technically is optional, but I have not had an issue with gbe ports on any equipment as long as the cable was relatively OK.

To be exceedingly specific, I ordered the SFPs from Fortinet, but they are labeled as Finisar Active Copper SFP.