United States
Q
What are Fortinet Switches?
A
Fortinet Switches are purpose-built, secure network switches that integrate with the Fortinet Security Fabric to deliver high-performance connectivity and unified threat management.
Q
Which Fortinet Switch models are available?
A
Fortinet offers a portfolio of unmanaged, managed and PoE/PoE+ switches—ranging from entry-level 8-port devices to high-density 48-port and 100GbE models—to fit diverse network requirements.
Q
What key features do Fortinet Switches provide?
A
Fortinet Switches deliver advanced security enforcement, integrated PoE/PoE+ power, true stacking, VLAN segmentation, QoS, and centralized management through FortiGate or FortiManager.
Q
Can I manage Fortinet Switches from FortiGate?
A
Yes. FortiSwitch devices seamlessly integrate with FortiGate firewalls for zero-touch provisioning, policy-based segmentation and single-pane-of-glass management.
Q
Do Fortinet Switches support Power over Ethernet (PoE)?
A
Most Fortinet Switches support PoE/PoE+ with up to 30W per port and up to 740W total budget to power IP phones, cameras and wireless access points.
Q
What security features are built into Fortinet Switches?
A
Built-in security features include dynamic VLAN assignment, IEEE 802.1X authentication, ACL enforcement, MAC-based device fingerprinting and integration with FortiNAC.
Q
How do I configure VLANs on a Fortinet Switch?
A
VLANs can be configured via the FortiGate GUI, FortiManager or CLI by defining VLAN interfaces, assigning port memberships and applying security policies.
Q
What performance levels can I expect?
A
Fortinet Switches deliver wire-speed forwarding, low latency and scalable throughput up to 176 Gbps per chassis, ensuring reliable performance for demanding workloads.
Q
Are Fortinet Switches stackable?
A
Yes. Select FortiSwitch models support physical or virtual stacking to simplify management, increase port density and enable resilient topologies.
Q
How do Fortinet Switches integrate with the Security Fabric?
A
FortiSwitches auto-discover and register with the Fortinet Security Fabric, enabling unified policy enforcement, event correlation and automated threat response.
Q
What warranty and support options are available?
A
Fortinet offers a one-year limited hardware warranty with next-business-day advance replacement, and FortiCare support services for extended coverage and 24×7 assistance.
Q
Are licenses required for advanced features?
A
Base switching features are included; advanced security, analytics and management require FortiGuard and FortiManager licenses, purchasable a la carte or as bundles.
Q
How energy efficient are Fortinet Switches?
A
Fortinet Switches employ green Ethernet technologies and efficient power supplies, optimizing consumption while supporting PoE budget management to reduce operational costs.
Q
What is the process to update switch firmware?
A
Firmware updates can be applied via the FortiGate GUI or FortiManager using FortiGuard distribution, or manually uploaded through the FortiSwitch CLI for controlled rollouts.
Q
What typical use cases suit Fortinet Switches?
A
Use cases include secure campus LAN, branch office connectivity, data center top-of-rack switching, PoE-powered access and integration with wireless LAN deployments.
Q
How can I troubleshoot connectivity issues?
A
Use built-in diagnostics—such as ping, traceroute, port mirroring and log analysis via FortiView—to quickly identify link failures, configuration errors and security events.
Q
Where can I purchase Fortinet Switches?
A
Fortinet Switches are available through authorized Fortinet resellers, distributors and online marketplaces; contact your local Fortinet partner for quotes and configurations.
