Deploy the FortiGate VM on your chosen virtualization platform.

Since FortiOS 7.2.1, Fortinet has replaced the old 15-day trial with a for FortiGate VMs. This license never expires, making it ideal for long-term lab environments and exam prep. How to Get Your Free License

While permanent, the free license has significant restrictions compared to a paid Bring Your Own License (BYOL) : : Limited to 1 CPU and 2 GB of RAM .

When the VM boots, log in (default user: admin , no password) and ensure the VM has internet access. Use the command: execute fortiguard-log login Use code with caution.

The VM will automatically register itself to your FortiCloud account and activate the free tier. Resources: Limited to 1 CPU and 2GB of RAM.