#DAY 1: Gathering assets on FortiGate Firewall Deployment and Configuration journey

Gathering Essentials for a Successful Firewall Setup

Introduction

In order to provide a secure network environment, a FortiGate Firewall must be installed. FortiGate is an enterprise-grade security system with strong features like application control, VPN connectivity, intrusion prevention, and traffic filtering. From obtaining the virtual image to deploying it in a virtualized environment, I followed a methodical, step-by-step installation process to obtain hands-on experience.

The main goals of this step were to set up the firewall image, prepare system resources, and make sure there was adequate connectivity for first access. The platform for later customizations, including interface assignments, security rules, and routing, was made available by the installation's successful completion.

Objective

I concentrated on the preliminary setup and installation procedure on Day 1. Getting the firewall image, configuring system resources, and making sure there was enough connectivity for first access were all part of this. Additional configuration chores, such as interface assignments, firewall policies, and routing setup, were made possible by the installation's successful completion.

FortiGate Firewall Installation Procedure

Account Creation & Image Download: I first created a user account on the Fortinet Support Portal with my login credentials.

Navigated to the download section and selected the latest FortiGate VM image for VMware ESXi.

Downloaded Asset:A ZIP file containing the FortiGate VM image.

Selecting the latest version of FortiGate on VMWare ESXi to be downloaded

The downloaded zip file of the VM image

Extracting the VM image file

Importing VM & Initial VM Setup

Importing the FortiGate VM
I open my VM to import the VM image → Select the image file, next accept the User license agreement → Name the VM and import”

Open the VM to import by clicking on Open a virtual machine

Selecting image

Accept the license agreement

Name the VM to FortiGate VM and import
![Image1(https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ip4z7go30co2f55jtwwi.png)

Configuring my VM network adapters

Network Configuration
The process of establishing and maintaining the parameters and settings necessary for devices to communicate within a network is known as network setup. This entails setting up routers, switches, and firewalls, allocating IP addresses, and making sure that the right security and connectivity procedures are followed. There are two types of firewall interface they are: - Management interface, monitoring interface, and internet interface - Other interfaces that connect to the private network

Types of Firewall Interfaces

Management / Monitoring / Internet Interface

• This interface is primarily used for administration, monitoring, and external internet connectivity.
• It allows administrators to log in, configure the firewall, and ensure communication with external/public networks.

Private / Internal Interfaces

• These interfaces connect to the internal or private network segments.
• They provide secure communication between internal hosts, servers, and other network devices, ensuring segmentation and controlled access.

Power On the VM

Conclusion

The FortiGate virtual machine was successfully installed in the virtualized environment at the end of the first day. I made sure the firewall was prepared for additional customization and security hardening in the following stages by finishing the installation and initial setup.

Lessons Learned

- Preparation First: *The import procedure was made easier by having the appropriate virtual machine image and license files on hand.
*- Learn about Interfaces: To prevent misconfiguration, it was essential to understand the difference between private and administration interfaces.
- Compatibility and Licensing: For a seamless deployment, FortiGate virtual machine versions must correspond with the virtualization platform.
- Practical Application: Experiential implementation yielded a more profound comprehension than merely theoretical research.