FortiOS 5.0 supports uploading a configuration file from a TFTP server to the FortiGate unit to automatically configure the FortiGate unit with one simple step. Similar to an auto-configuration feature used for VoIP phones, you can store the domain name or IP address of a TFTP server and a configuration file name in your DHCP server configuration.

For example, to use auto-configuration to configure a FortiGate unit, add the TFTP server information and configuration file name to your DHCP server. Make sure the TFTP server is running and includes the configuration file. Then, from the CLI of the FortiGate unit to be auto-configured, enter the following command (assuming the FortiGate internal interface is connected to the same network as the TFTP server).

The FortiGate unit gets the information it needs from the DHCP server, downloads and installs the configuration file from the TFTP server and restarts running its new configuration.

If the TFTP server is only available on a VLAN network (for example, VLAN id 224), you can use the following command to access the TFTP server on the VLAN network: