Updating the system firmware
To take advantage of the latest features and fixes, FortiManager provides two ways to upgrade its firmware: manually or through the FDN.
| Back up the configuration and database before changing the firmware of your Fortinet unit. Changing the firmware to an older or incompatible version may reset the configuration and database to the default values for that firmware version, resulting in data loss. For information on backing up the configuration, see “Backing up and restoring the system”. |
| Before you can download firmware updates for your Fortinet unit, you must first register your Fortinet unit with Customer Service & Support. For details, go to https://support.fortinet.com/ or contact Customer Service & Support. |
To manually change the Fortinet firmware:
2. Go to System Settings > General > Dashboard.
3. In the System Information widget, in the Firmware Version row, select Update.
The firmware upgrade dialog box opens.
4. Select From Local, and select Browse to locate the firmware package (.out file) that you downloaded from the Customer Service & Support web site and select Open.
5. Select OK to upload the file.
Your browser uploads the firmware file. The time required varies by the size of the file and the speed of your network connection. When the file transfer is complete, a prompt appears:
“Manual upload release complete. It will take a few minutes to unpack the uploaded release. Please wait.”
6. Wait until the unpacking process completes, then refresh the page. The firmware package file name will appear in the Releases Available For Upgrade section after you refresh the page.
7. Select the firmware package, then select the icon in the Upgrade Firmware column and select OK in the dialog box that appears. The Fortinet unit installs the firmware and restarts.
If you changed the firmware to an earlier version whose configuration is not compatible, you may need to do first-time setup again. For instructions, see the FortiManager QuickStart Guide for your unit.
| Installing firmware replaces the current network vulnerability management engine with the version included with the firmware release that you are installing. After you install the new firmware, make sure that your vulnerability definitions are up-to-date. For more information, see “FortiGuard Services”. |
To change the FortiManager system firmware through FDN:
1. The FortiManager system can automatically download firmware updates from FDN, if you have a valid support license. To access these updates, go to System > Dashboard > Status.
2. In the
System Information widget, in the
Firmware Version row, select
Update. The Firmware Upgrade dialog box appears; see
Figure 27.
When new versions of firmware are available on FDN, new entries are shown in the From Server drop-down list.
3. Select the Download icon to start downloading the new upgrade firmware. The time required varies by the size of the file and the speed of your network connection.
4. Wait until the unpacking process completes, then refresh the page. The new firmware package will appear in the Releases Available For Upgrade section after you refresh the page.
5. Select the firmware package, then select the icon in the Upgrade Firmware column and select OK in the dialog box that appears. The Fortinet unit installs the firmware and restarts.
| Upgrading firmware through FDN needs proper setup. |
| FortiManager v4.0 MR3 does not provide a full downgrade path. For those users who want to downgrade to an older FortiManager firmware release, downgrade the system firmware via a TFTP server with the firmware burning procedure embedded within the FortiManager system boot-up menu. A full format of the system hard drives and system reset are required after the firmware downgrading process. All configuration will be lost after downgrading the device, and the system hard drives will be formatted. |
For more information on upgrading or downgrading the firmware, see
“Firmware and Revision Control”.
