Network Management

Fortigate connection timeout for test/login in NCM

When trying to use or change the template for FortiGate devices, a timeout is experienced upon clicking TEST.

First published date

10/10/2018 7:37 PM

Last published date

11/5/2025 11:26 PM

Overview

When you try to connect using SSH client, the connection goes through fine without any additional user intervention. You may also refer to "resolution no.2" where adding specific lines in the device template may resolve this issue.

Product section

Network Configuration Manager

Cause

FortiGate is expecting a Virtual Prompt to get past $.

Resolution

  1. Go to Settings > Manage Device Templates.
  2. Edit and make a copy of the Fortigate template.
    Note: you have to make a copy because if you try to edit the original, the website will throw an exception and tell you to make a copy first. You cannot directly edit default templates.
  3. Edit the Copy of Fortigate (for example, Fortigate2).
  4. Paste into the XML the following line: 
    <Command Name="VirtualPrompt" Value="$"/>​​​
  5. Save and exit.

Note: Make sure that VirtualPrompt is one word with capital V, capital P and not Virtual Prompt.

Resolution 2:
Add these in the device template:

<Command Name="MenuBased" Value="false"/>
<Command Name="VirtualPrompt" Value="\$"/>