AWS Direct Connect config file for Fortinet Firewall

Question

Hi,

We're setting up an AWS Direct Connect connection. We deployed the Virtual Interface, attached it to a Virtual Gateway with an attached VPC. The Virtual interface is already available but the status is down, which is as expected. Our next step is the configuration for the BGP peering of our local machine to the AWS Virtual Interface. We're having issues in the configuration of our local machine which is Fortigate Firewall since the configuration files that AWS can only provide is for Cisco, Juniper or Palo Alto. We tried using Juniper for the configuration since it has similarities with Fortinet. We followed the steps downloaded from the Virtual Interface sample configuration file but the Virtual Interface status is still down.

Are we missing something? Is the Fortinet Firewall not recommended as router for Direct Connect Virtual Interface?

Tushar_J · Answer

As long as your Fortinet device supports the prerequisites mentioned [here](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/directconnect/latest/UserGuide/getting_started.html#get-started-prerequisites) it will be supported.

Note that the configuration file provided by AWS is example only it is impossible to cover and provide configurations for all the different vendors, different hardware and software versions so this guidance is best effort only.

So you can download a config file to use as a guide, but commands need to be 'translated' into Fortinet compatible ones.

General steps:

* Disable auto-negotiation
* Configure (sub)interface for IP address and 802.1Q trunking, using corresponding values as when VIF in the AWS console was created
* Configure BGP to peer with AWS router accordingly

Example configs can also be found [here](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/directconnect/latest/UserGuide/create-vif.html#vif-example-router-files).

I suggest reaching Fortinet support and AWS support for troubleshooting, as re:Post platform is for general guidance and not troubleshooting issues.

cedrimendes · Answer

Yes, i know Fortinet is supported and recommended

Based on your description you probable need support only for config FortiGate as required by AWS.

AWS Direct Connect config file for Fortinet Firewall

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