Settings configured outside of a VDOM are called global settings. These settings affect the entire FortiGate unit and include areas such as interfaces, HA, maintenance, some antivirus settings, and some logging settings. In general, any unit settings that should only be changed by the top level administrator are global settings.

Settings configured within a VDOM are called VDOM settings. These settings affect only that specific VDOM and include areas such as operating mode, routing, firewall, VPN, some antivirus, some logging, and reporting.

For more information, see “Global and per-VDOM settings”.