The -i option automatically detects and mounts the root partition.
: Organizations can use FortiOS.qcow2 to evaluate the features and performance of FortiOS in a controlled environment.
Fortinet continues to add features with every FortiOS release. The ongoing transition from evaluation licenses with fixed expiration to permanent trial licenses (from 7.2.0 onward) demonstrates Fortinet’s commitment to making virtual firewalls accessible for learning and testing, while robust licensing mechanisms ensure production deployments are properly supported and updated.
On Proxmox, create a new VM, delete the default virtual disk, then import the fortios.qcow2 image as a VirtIO block device. After the VM boots, add a second VirtIO disk (30 GB minimum) for logging. Under Hardware → Processors, change the CPU type to to ensure maximum compatibility with FortiOS features. fortios.qcow2
Only inspect fortios.qcow2 images that you own or have explicit permission to analyze. FortiOS is proprietary firmware; reverse engineering or decryption may violate license agreements. This guide is for legitimate troubleshooting, forensic analysis, or lab recovery of your own assets.
Add multiple network interfaces (VirtIO is recommended for best performance). You will typically need one interface for management/WAN and others for LAN/DMZ.
When downloading the FortiOS KVM deployment package (usually named something like FGT_VM64_KVM-v7.x.x.F-buildXXXX.out.kvm.zip ), extracting it reveals two primary QCOW2 files: The -i option automatically detects and mounts the
This article explores what fortios.qcow2 is, how it works, and how to utilize it to deploy virtual FortiGate firewalls in 2026. 1. What is fortios.qcow2 ?
: The fortios.qcow2 file alone isn't enough. You must manually create a separate 32GB log disk for the FortiGate VM to operate properly.
The file grows as data is written, saving physical storage space on the host machine. The ongoing transition from evaluation licenses with fixed
guestunmount /mnt/forti
Log into the Fortinet Support Portal, navigate to , and select: Product : FortiGate Platform : KVM