: The system will immediately prompt you to create a secure password. Configure Management IP (Example):
Deploying the 7.2.3 image provides administrators with the standard array of Fortinet's Unified SASE and Secure Networking toolsets:
: The downloaded qcow2 file is just the system disk. The FortiGate-VM also requires a separate, dedicated disk of at least 32GB for logging and reporting. You must manually create and attach this second disk to the VM before powering it on. You can do this with virt-manager or via the command line ( qemu-img to create the disk, then edit the VM's XML definition to attach it). fgtvm64kvmv723fbuild1262fortinetoutkvmqcow2
Which of these would you like next?
: Confirms it is a .qcow2 image, which is the native virtual disk format for QEMU/KVM environments. : The system will immediately prompt you to
| If you... | Action | |-----------|--------| | Have this exact image file | Verify checksum against Fortinet’s official download page | | Plan to deploy in production | Use a newer FortiOS version (7.4.x or 7.6.x as of 2026) | | Need this for testing | Apply necessary security patches post-deployment | | Cannot identify the source | Do run – could be tampered (malware disguised as firewall image) |
: Specifies FortiOS Version 7.2.3 . The F denotes a Feature Release , meaning it introduces new functional capabilities alongside standard maintenance updates. You must manually create and attach this second
This guide outlines the deployment of specifically for KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) environments using the .qcow2 image format. 1. Image File Identification
: Running FortiOS 7.2.3 with less than 2048 MB of RAM will result in a kernel panic or continuous boot loops during initial setup. Step-by-Step KVM CLI Deployment