FortiGate Remote Access IPsec VPN

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of configuring a Remote Access IPsec VPN on FortiGate. Additionally, we will cover how to set up FortiClient VPN to establish a secure remote connection. This configuration is essential for ensuring secure access to your network from remote locations.

Step 1: Access the FortiGate Firewall

• Open your web browser.
• Enter the IP address of your FortiGate device in the address bar.
• Log in with your admin credentials.

Step 2: Configure the IPsec VPN

1. Navigate to VPN in the left sidebar.
2. Select IPsec Tunnels.
3. Click on Create New to start a new tunnel configuration.
4. Fill in the following fields:
   • Name: Choose a name for the VPN tunnel.
   • Remote Gateway: Set this to "Dialup User".
   • Interface: Select the WAN interface.
5. Under the Authentication section:
   • Set the Pre-shared Key for authentication.
6. In the Phase 1 settings:
   • Set Encryption and Authentication methods according to your security requirements.
7. Configure the Phase 2 settings:
   • Define the local and remote subnets to specify the traffic that should be routed through the VPN.
8. Click OK to save the configuration.

Step 3: Create User Accounts

1. Navigate to User & Device in the left sidebar.
2. Select User Definition.
3. Click on Create New.
4. Fill in the necessary details for each user:
   • Username: Enter a unique username.
   • Password: Set a strong password.
5. Assign the user to the VPN group you created earlier.
6. Click OK to save the user account.

Step 4: Configure Firewall Policies

1. Go to Policy & Objects.
2. Select IPv4 Policy.
3. Click on Create New to add a new policy.
4. Fill in the following:
   • Name: Enter a name for the policy.
   • Incoming Interface: Select the VPN interface.
   • Outgoing Interface: Select the internal network interface.
   • Source: Choose the user group you created.
   • Destination: Set this to all or specific internal resources.
   • Service: Select the services you want to allow (e.g., ALL).
   • Enable NAT if required.
5. Click OK to save the policy.

Step 5: Download and Configure FortiClient

1. Go to the FortiClient download page and download the appropriate version for your operating system.
2. Install FortiClient on the remote device.
3. Open FortiClient and navigate to Remote Access.
4. Click on Configure VPN and fill in the following:
   • VPN Type: Select "IPsec VPN".
   • Name: Enter a name for the connection.
   • Remote Gateway: Enter the public IP address of the FortiGate.
   • Pre-shared Key: Enter the key configured in Step 2.
   • Username and Password: Enter the credentials created in Step 3.
5. Click Save to complete the configuration.

Step 6: Connect to the VPN

• In FortiClient, select the VPN connection you configured.
• Click on Connect.
• Verify that the connection is established successfully.

Conclusion

You have now successfully configured a Remote Access IPsec VPN on FortiGate and set up FortiClient to connect to it. This setup allows secure remote access to your network. For further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below or check out more tutorials on our channel. Consider reviewing the configurations and adjusting security settings based on your organization's needs for optimal security.