Intro
While management of most network devices is done via web interfaces in the modern day, the serial console can still be an excellent way to quickly configure your device and/or troubleshoot pesky issues.
Prerequisites
1. FortiSwitch with console port
2. USB Console Cable (USB to RJ45) (if you don't have already have one, you can easily find one online for $10 or less)
3. Windows machine with PuTTY installed
Steps
1. Connect your USB console cable between your device and the switch
2. Verify the COM port connected. Open Device Manager by typing "Win + R" to open the Run dialog and enter "devmgmt.msc" . In Device Manager, expand the "Ports (COM & LPT)" section. Usually, your device will be using COM1 by default, but this may not always be the case. In our case, we're using COM3.
3. Open PuTTY
4. Under "Connection Type", choose "Serial" and change the "Serial line" if necessary. In the left-hand pane, click "Serial" for additional options.
5. Configure the serial line based on the settings listed in the quick-start guide that came with your device. For our FortiSwitch 124E, our serial settings are as follows:
Speed(baud): 115200Data bits: 1Stop bits: 1Parity: noneFlow control: none
6. Click "Open" and press the "Enter" key once the terminal opens
7. You should now have a login prompt! If this is your first time configuring your switch, you should be able to use the default username of "admin" and a blank password. If you've already setup your device, you'll need to use the credentials you set previously. From here, you can interact with the CLI just like you would through the web GUI.
Conclusion
While web and cloud management interfaces are becoming increasingly popular, especially with Fortinet devices, the trusty serial console can still be an excellent option for initial setup and/or debugging when other connection options are unavailable. With a free and open-source program like PuTTY, and a little bit of configuration, you have a quick and easy way to manage your switch from your Windows machine.
