FortiOS 5.4 Online Help Link FortiOS 5.2 Online Help Link FortiOS 5.0 Online Help Link FortiOS 4.3 Online Help Link

Home > Online Help

> Chapter 22 - SSL VPN > The SSL VPN web portal > Using the Connection Tool

Using the Connection Tool

The Connection Tool widget enables a user to connect to a resource when it isn’t a bookmark. In the FortiGate, ensure that the desired application or protocol (to which you want remote users to connect) is enabled in the Applications list of the General settings, by selecting the Settings button in the portal configuration window.

You can connect to any type of server without adding a bookmark to the My Bookmarks list. The fields in the Connection Tool enable you to specify the type of server and the URL or IP address of the host computer.

See the following procedures:

Except for ping, these services require that you have an account on the server to which you connect.

When you use the Connection Tool, the FortiGate unit may offer you its self-signed security certificate. Select Yes to proceed. A second message may be displayed to inform you of a host name mismatch. This message is displayed because the FortiGate unit is attempting to redirect your web browser connection. Select Yes to proceed.
To connect to a web server
  1. In Type, select HTTP/HTTPS.
  2. In the Host field, type the URL of the web server.
    For example: http://www.mywebexample.com or https://172.20.120.101
  3. Select Go.
  4. To end the session, close the browser window.
To ping a host or server behind the FortiGate unit
  1. In Type, select Ping.
  2. In the Host field, enter the IP address of the host or server that you want to reach.
    For example: 10.11.101.22
  3. Select Go.
    A message stating whether the IP address can be reached or not is displayed.
To start a Telnet session
  1. In Type, select Telnet.
  2. In the Host field, type the IP address of the telnet host.
    For example: 10.11.101.12
  3. Select Go.
    A Telnet window opens.
  4. Select Connect.
  5. A telnet session starts and you are prompted to log in to the remote host.
    After you log in, you may enter any series of valid telnet commands at the system prompt.
  6. To end the session, select Disconnect (or type exit) and then close the TELNET connection window.
To start an FTP session
  1. In Type, select FTP.
  2. In the Host field, type the IP address of the FTP server.
    For example: 10.11.101.12
  3. Select Go.
    A login window opens.
  4. Enter your user name and password and then select Login.
    You must have a user account on the remote host to log in.
  5. Manipulate the files in any of the following ways:
  • To download a file, select the file link in the Name column.
  • To access a subdirectory (Type is Folder), select the link in the Name column.
  • To create a subdirectory in the current directory, select New directory.
  • To delete a file or subdirectory from the current directory, select its Delete icon.
  • To rename a file in the current directory, select its Rename icon.
  • To upload a file to the current directory from your client computer, select Upload.
  • When the current directory is a subdirectory, you can select Up to access the parent directory.
  1. To end the FTP session, select Logout.
To start an SMB/CIFS session
  1. In Type, select SMB/CIFS.
  2. In the Host field, type the IP address of the SMB or CIFS server.
    For example: 10.11.101.12
  3. Select Go.
  4. Enter your user name and password and then select Login.
    You must have a user account on the remote host to log in.
  5. Manipulate the files in any of the following ways:
  • To download a file, select the file link in the Name column.
  • To access a subdirectory (Type is Folder), select the file link in the Name column.
  • To create a subdirectory in the current directory, select New Directory.
  • To delete a file or subdirectory from the current directory, select its Delete icon.
  • To rename a file, select its Rename icon.
  • To upload a file from your client computer to the current directory, select Upload.
  • When the current directory is a subdirectory, you can select Up to access the parent directory.
  1. To end the SMB/CIFS session, select Logout and then close the SMB/CIFS window.
To start an SSH session
  1. In Type, select SSH.
  2. In the Host field, type the IP address of the SSH host.
    For example: 10.11.101.12
  3. Select Go.
    A login window opens.
  4. Select Connect.
    A SSH session starts and you are prompted to log in to the remote host. You must have a user account to log in. After you log in, you may enter any series of valid commands at the system prompt.
  5. To end the session, select Disconnect (or type exit) and then close the SSH connection window.
To start an RDP session
  1. In Type, select RDP.
  2. In the Host field, type the IP address of the RDP host.
    For example: 10.11.101.12
  3. Optionally, you can specify additional options for RDP by adding them to the Host field following the host address. See RDP options for information about the available options.
    For example, to use a French language keyboard layout you would add the -m parameter:
    10.11.101.12 -m fr
  4. Select Go.
    A login window opens.
  5. When you see a screen configuration dialog, click OK.
    The screen configuration dialog does not appear if you specified the screen resolution with the host address.
  6. When you are prompted to log in to the remote host, type your user name and password. You must have a user account on the remote host to log in.
  7. Select Login.
    If you need to send Ctrl-Alt-Delete in your session, use Ctrl-Alt-End.
  8. To end the RDP session, Log out of Windows or select Cancel from the Logon window.

RDP options

When you specify the RDP server address, you can also specify other options for your remote desktop session.

Screen resolution

Use this command to make the RDP window full screen or a specific the window size.
-f Make RDP full-screen
-g <width>x<height>

<width> and <height> are in pixels

Example: -g 800x600
Authentication

Use these options to send your authentication credentials with the connection request, instead of entering them after the connection is established.
-u <user name>
-p <password>
-d <domain>
Locale/Keyboard

Use this option if the remote computer might not use the same keyboard layout as your computer. Select the locale code that matches your computer.
-m <locale>

The supported values of <locale> are:
ar
da
de
de-ch
en-gb
en-uk
en-us
es
fi
fr
fr-be
fr-ca
fr-ch
hr
hu
Arabic
Danish
German
Swiss German
British English
UK English
US English
Spanish
Finnish
French
Belgian French
Canadian French
Swiss French
Croatian
Hungarian
it
ja
lt
lv
mk
no
pl
pt
pt-br
ru
sl
sv
tk
tr
Italian
Japanese
Lithuanian
Latvian
Macedonian
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese
Russian
Slovenian
Sudanese
Turkmen
Turkish
To start a VNC session
  1. In Type, select VNC.
  2. In the Host field, type the IP address of the VNC host.
    For example: 10.11.101.12
  3. Select Go.
    A login window opens.
  4. Type your user name and password when prompted to log in to the remote host.
    You must have a user account on the remote host to log in.
  5. Select OK.
    If you need to send Ctrl-Alt-Delete in your session, press F8, then select Send Ctrl‑Alt‑Delete from the pop-up menu.
  6. To end the VNC session, close the VNC window.