Create an empty secondary target storage allocation disk alongside your original fgtvm64kvmv721fbuild1254fortinetoutkvmqcow2 image: qemu-img create -f qcow2 fortigate_logs.qcow2 30G Use code with caution. 3. Deploying via CLI (virt-install)
Download the FortiGate GNS3 Appliance File ( .gns3a ) from the marketplace. Go to and select the .gns3a file.
virsh console fortigate-721
Getting this exact image up, running, and passing traffic in environments like standalone , GNS3 , or EVE-NG requires precise resource scoping and proper initialization. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding this virtual appliance and building a functional network lab with it. 1. Deconstructing the Image Name
: The file extension format. qcow2 (QEMU Copy-On-Write 2) is the primary storage disk format used by Linux-based virtualization setups. Technical Specifications and Requirements fgtvm64kvmv721fbuild1254fortinetoutkvmqcow2 work
To access the graphical user interface (GUI) or run updates, map an IP address to the first network port ( port1 ), which acts as the default management interface. Execute the following CLI commands:
So the full meaning is:
virt-install \ --name=FGT-v7.2.1-Build1254 \ --vcpus=1 \ --memory=2048 \ --os-variant=generic \ --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/fgtvm64kvmv721fbuild1254fortinetoutkvmqcow2,format=qcow2,bus=virtio \ --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/fgt_log_disk.qcow2,size=30,format=qcow2,bus=virtio \ --network bridge=virbr0,model=virtio \ --network bridge=virbr1,model=virtio \ --import \ --noautoconsole Use code with caution. Scenario B: Importing into EVE-NG or GNS3
Before spinning up the image, ensure your host machine provides the baseline resource specifications designated for FortiOS 7.2.x virtual appliances: Resource Component Minimum Requirement Recommended (Lab/Prod) 2 or more vCPU RAM 2.0 GB (Mandatory for v7.0+) Primary Disk 32 GB (OS drive) Secondary Disk Not required for boot 50 GB+ (For logging/wads) Network Interfaces 1 VirtIO interface 3 to 4 (Management, WAN, LAN) Create an empty secondary target storage allocation disk
This particular build (FortiOS 7.2.1 Build 1254) is notable for several reasons.