Using the new FortiClient VPN
Everyday use of the FortiClient VPN should not require any intervention, but it can be prone to issues. The following information is intended to give you an understanding of a couple of steps you can try.
First time use
Occasionally, you may see a 'disconnected' message on first time use:
This can occur when a device is shared. If you see this, you must contact the IT Hub and ask them to provide you with an ‘Invite code’.
This will be sent to you via email or teams, as they should work even if you are not connected to the VPN.
Once the IT Hub agent sends you the code, you can copy and paste it into the text box and select Connect.
A blue animated bar should show across the top of the FortiClient console window, and providing you are connected to the internet, it should connect.
Normal operation
During normal operation, on taking your laptop home, and providing you have previously connected it to your home broadband, the VPN will just connect.
The icon that shows the status of FortiClient can be found in your System tray (bottom-left of your main screen).
By default, the icon will be classed as a hidden icon, and you will need to click the little up arrow to reveal it. We recommend you drag this icon into the visible system tray, so it always visible:
The icon
While in the office the icon will look like this:
This indicates that you are not connected
When the VPN is connecting the icon will look like this:
Once connected, the icon will change to this with an orange padlock:
Occasionally you might see the icon with an animated blue dot. This is seen when the FortiClient is conducting a vulnerability scan:
When you are connected to the VPN, you can hover over the icon to see that data is being sent and received. This can also be used to see if there was an issue, for example: You are receiving zero bytes. If this happens, you will need to raise a ticket with the IT Hub.
Open FortiClient Console
If you right-click the icon, you can open the FortiClient Console.
This gives you four or five tabs:
- Zero Trust telemetry
- Remote Access
- Notifications
- Settings
- About
Zero Trust telemetry
On the Zero Trust telemetry tab you can see the status of the FortiClient – if your laptop is connected to the Trafford network or your home broadband this should show as “Connected.”
This does not mean that you are on VPN, this simply means that IT. can see your laptop:
If there is a red cross, and it says “Not reachable” it means one of two things.
- You have not connected to a network with internet access.
- Your device has a “DNS” issue.
At this point, you would need to log a ticket with the IT Hub, and/or get into the office to continue working.
Remote access
The remote access tab will only show if you are not connected to the Trafford network, be it, by Wi-Fi, LAN cable or on Pulse. The software does a check every 60 seconds.
If FortiClient doesn't automatically connect, or it doesn't connect while pressing the Connect button, try launching the internet browser "Edge" this will enable that VPN to sense it is on the internet, despite not displaying any info.
Anyone in GMSS who will be able to connect via VPN while in the office, due to operating necessities.
Notifications
This area will show notifications regarding connection issue, such as if any updates are available.
Settings
There is currently nothing to see here.
About
Within the about tab, there is the option to compile some diagnostic logs, these may be necessary if you are having continued issues with your VPN connection. Learning how to do this would be helpful to the IT Hub team, as it takes up to five minutes to produce them.
Creating log files, further information about collecting your logs, can be found in this document FortiClient VPN Logs - Creating a log file.
See also