While the trial license is free and does not expire, Fortinet imposes strict resource caps to prevent users from deploying the free tier in production environments. 1. Hardware Restrictions Limited to a maximum of 1 vCPU. RAM Cap: Limited to a maximum of 2 GB RAM. Storage Cap: Limited to 20 GB of disk space. 2. Feature Restrictions
Open a web browser and navigate to the management IP of your VM.
Starting with FortiOS version 7.2.1 , Fortinet fundamentally changed its evaluation policy. The company removed the built-in 15-day evaluation license from FortiGate VM images and replaced it with a "permanent trial" model .
If you need a (KVM, Hyper-V) or cloud (AWS trial), let me know and I can tailor the steps accordingly. fortigate vm license trial
Supports basic integration with other Fortinet products like FortiAnalyzer VPN Support: Core networking and VPN features remain operational, which is rare for free tiers. Fortinet Document Library ❌ The Cons (Restrictions) Resource Caps: Limited to Low Throughput:
Low-strength encryption is enforced for certain features (e.g., restricted cryptographic cipher suites for HTTPS/SSL/TLS administrative access).
The FortiGate VM free trial is a built-in permanent evaluation license. It replaces the old 15-day time-limited trial. You can deploy it in home labs, testing environments, or proof-of-concept (PoC) setups. Key Features Included While the trial license is free and does
The trial license is designed for testing and learning environments. According to the FortiGate VM License Guide , it includes:
By default, the free trial uses "low encryption" (no high-grade SSL/TLS inspection), which is a regulatory requirement in many regions for unlicensed software.
Once logged in, configure an IP address on your primary interface (usually port1 ) to allow web management: RAM Cap: Limited to a maximum of 2 GB RAM
I can provide the exact commands and configuration steps for your setup. Share public link
execute vm-license trial
By default, the trial enforces standard crypto limits unless an industry-standard account is verified. Strong encryption (crypto-strength) requires a valid FortiCare account associated with a corporate domain.
The primary differences lie in:
Yes. You can purchase a full license for the appropriate FortiGate VM model. Once you have the license file ( .lic ), go to FortiGuard > Subscription > Manage VM license , upload the new license file, and reboot the VM.