Is the end of second hand market for Fortinet Firewalls?
With the release of FortiOS 8.0.0, as is tradition, several new features and resources have been launched. These are more than just incremental updates.
FORTINET
5/4/20261 min read
What has changed?
In the new Fortinet models, you now have a 7-day window to configure everything via GUI or CLI before registration with FortiCare becomes mandatory. If the deadline expires and you haven't registered, access is blocked until you link the device to your account.
Why is this useful?
This makes life much easier for distributors and partners. Now, they can have the FortiGate fully configured before shipping it to the end customer, facilitating Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP) processes without needing to register the serial number prematurely.
How does the timer work?
Countdown: The clock starts ticking the first time you turn on the FortiGate.
Pause: The countdown is based on the device's uptime. If you log out and turn off the device, the timer stops.
End of Period: The period ends when you reach 168 hours (7 days) of accumulated usage or as soon as you complete the official registration — whichever comes first.
Please note: If the end customer receives the FortiGate after these 7 days of setup have passed, they will have to register immediately upon their first login to access the settings.
Conclusion
What will lab environments look like for students, enthusiasts, and professionals? It is still too early to draw a definitive conclusion; however, this appears to be a first step toward restricting the usability of legacy hardware, potentially driving significant changes in the secondary market for such devices.