In the past, virtual domains (VDOMs) were separate from each other—there was no internal communication. Any communication between VDOMs involved traffic leaving on a physical interface belonging to one VDOM and re-entering the FortiGate unit on another physical interface belonging to another VDOM to be inspected by firewall policies in both directions.

Inter-VDOM routing changes this. With VDOM links, VDOMs can communicate internally without using additional physical interfaces.

Inter-VDOM routing is the communication between VDOMs. VDOM links are virtual interfaces that connect VDOMs. A VDOM link contains a pair of interfaces with each one connected to a VDOM, and forming either end of the inter-VDOM connection.

This chapter contains the following sections: