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FortiGate modes

The FortiGate unit has a choice of modes that it can be used in, either NAT/Route mode or Transparent mode. The FortiGate unit is able to operate as a firewall in both modes, but some of its features are limited in Transparent mode. It is always best to choose which mode you are going to be using at the beginning of the set up. Once you start configuring the device, if you want to change the mode you are going to lose all configuration settings in the change process.

NAT/Route mode

NAT/Route mode is the most commonly used mode by a significant margin and is thus the default setting on the device. As the name implies the function of NAT is commonly used in this mode and is easily configured but there is no requirement to use NAT. The FortiGate unit performs network address translation before IP packets are sent to the destination network.

These are some of the characteristics of NAT/Route mode:

• Typically used when the FortiGate unit is a gateway between private and public networks.
• Can act as a router between multiple networks within a network infrastructure.
• When used, the FortiGate unit is visible to the networks that is connected to.
• Each logical interface is on a distinct subnet.
• Each Interface needs to be assigned a valid IP address for the subnet that it is connected to it.

Transparent mode

Transparent mode is so named because the device is effectively transparent in that it does not appear on the network in the way that other network devices show as a nodes in the path of network traffic. Transparent mode is typically used to apply the FortiOS features such as Security Profiles etc. on a private network where the FortiGate unit will be behind an existing firewall or router.

These are some of the characteristics of Transparent mode:

• The FortiGate unit is invisible to the network.
• All of its interfaces are on the same subnet and share the same IP address.
• The FortiGate unit uses a Management IP address for the purposes of Administration.
• Still able to use NAT to a degree, but the configuration is less straightforward

In Transparent mode, you can also perform NAT by creating a security policy or policies that translates the source addresses of packets passing through the FortiGate unit as well as virtual IP addresses and/or IP pools.