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sims
New Contributor III

software switch and hardware switch

Hi,

When we need to use  software and hardware switch , what are the use case scenario. I saw most of the implementation does not  added any sort of switch in fortigate . 

Thanks

1 Solution
Toshi_Esumi
SuperUser
SuperUser

For smaller models of FortiGate 30E, 50E, 60E, ..., LAN side interfaces/ports are bundled in a hardware switch like "lan" or "internal" by default. So that if you add a VLAN interface to it, all ports have the same tagged vlan.

Without a software switch interface, you can't bind both LAN(wired) interfaces and WiFi SSID interfaces together into one interface, like FortiWiFi models have in their default config.

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Toshi_Esumi
SuperUser
SuperUser

For smaller models of FortiGate 30E, 50E, 60E, ..., LAN side interfaces/ports are bundled in a hardware switch like "lan" or "internal" by default. So that if you add a VLAN interface to it, all ports have the same tagged vlan.

Without a software switch interface, you can't bind both LAN(wired) interfaces and WiFi SSID interfaces together into one interface, like FortiWiFi models have in their default config.

sims
New Contributor III

Hi,

Thanks for the reply . 

What you mean by the below , please explain 

you can't bind both LAN(wired) interfaces and WiFi SSID interfaces together into one interface, like FortiWiFi models have in their default config.

Thanks

Toshi_Esumi

A hard switch can have members only ports controled by "switching hardware" like sw0. SSID interfaces are obviously logical interfaces and nothing to do with sw0. That's why a soft switch is needed. You can understand when you take a look at members of those default interface in GUI you will see them. Or you can easily test it with your FGxx to confirm this.

Markus
Valued Contributor

one thing to know, be aware that software switch stop offloading to np https://forum.fortinet.co...p;m=171412&mpage=1  


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Toshi_Esumi

Good to know. Thanks Markus.

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