FortiNAC Device Profiling and Config Wizard – Session 3

By Manny Fernandez

March 9, 2026

FortiNAC Device Profiling and Config Wizard – Session 3

This is the third session in a multi-part article on FortiNAC. In the previous ones we have (1) Installing it, (2) Initial Discovery and now in this one, we will go over the Config Wizard as well as Device Profiling.

Port 2 on the FortiNAC

Let’s talk about port 2 on the NAC server. In FortiNAC (Network Access Control), Port 2 (eth1) typically serves as the Isolation Interface (also known as the logical eth1 or the Service Interface). Its primary function is to handle traffic for devices that have not yet been “accepted” or fully authenticated onto the production network.

Core Functions of Port 2

Captive Portal Delivery
When a new or non-compliant device connects to the network, FortiNAC uses Port 2 to host the Captive Portal. This is where users see login screens, Acceptable Use Policies (AUP), or registration forms.

Traffic Redirection (Quarantine)
Devices in an “Isolation” or “Quarantine” state are logically shunted to this interface. Port 2 acts as the gateway for these restricted devices, ensuring they cannot reach the internal production environment but can reach the FortiNAC services needed to get healthy or authenticated.

DHCP and DNS Services
In many configurations, Port 2 runs local services to manage isolated endpoints:
* DHCP – Assigns temporary IP addresses to devices in the isolation VLAN.
* DNS – Provides “DNS Steering,” which intercepts any web request (like infosecmonkey.com) and redirects the user’s browser to the FortiNAC registration page.

Communication within the Isolation VLAN
Port 2 is physically or logically connected to the Isolation/Registration VLAN on your switching infrastructure. It is the “landing zone” for any device that has not yet passed the security posture check.

FortiGate/FortiSwitch Configuration Port2

To have port2 be able to route to l3 subnets via Layer 3 Isolation you need to be able to get packets to and from the isolation VLAN of each site.

Here we have a VLAN where my FortiNAC’s port2 will communicate with my FortiGate. I created a new VLAN 369 and assigned an IP address to it of 10.241.249.1/24. I enabled ping and enabled the Block Intra-VLAN traffic.

FortiGate/FortiSwitch Isolation VLAN

At the remote sites, we need to create VLANs to be used as Isolation VLANs. I have one I created on my FortiSwitch via the FortiGate

In this VLAN, we configure it as a DHCP Relay Server to the IP address of Port2 on the FortiNAC (10.241.249.10 which we will be configured later).

Running Config Wizard

Once you have an IP address on your FortiNAC and you have licensed it through support.fortinet.com, and you have the basic dashboard, you can go to System then Config Wizard

Under the basic network section, you will need validate your information for the management interface.

Now we will choose the Layer 3 Isolation step.

Here we will configure an IP address on the same subnet we created earlier. As you can see, I used 10.241.249.10/24 and gave it a gateway of 10.241.249.1.

Here you will define the DHCP scopes for the remote isolation network(s).

In my case, I have 10.2.5.10–10.2.5.200 and the gateway (simile to Option3 on DHCP).

In my case, (if you have read my other articles, its a thing with me), I needed to add the VLAN to my trunk ports.

Here you can see NAC-PORT2 has been added. Additionally, on my ProxMox, I need to add the VLAN tag to my interface.

To test it, I went to the CLI on the FortiNAC and ping’d the gateway.

Device Profiling

In my case, I saw that I had some APs (Access Points) on my network, and I wanted to register them. There are two ways to do this. One of the ways is with a rule and the other is manually.

So I did a ⌘ select, and selected all the APs.

You are now going to right-click on any of them and choose Create Device Profiling Rule

You can set these devices to automatic register or manual register. Since it is my lab, I will set to automatic

You can click the little page icon, and change the icon.

In my case, I am doing Access Points so Network_wireless and hit OK.

Go to System then Device Profiling Rules

On the top row, you will see Run click that

You should see a messages telling you it is evaluating the rogues.

To manually register a device, and under the Users & Hosts and then Adapters section. Right click a device.

Scanning Devices for Profiling

When you have unidentified rogue devices, you can use nmap and FortiGuard IOT Scan scanners to help Identify. By right clicking on the device you can choose the nmap and FortiGuard IOT scan.

Hope this helps.

FortiNAC Device Profiling and Config Wizard – Session 3

Port 2 on the FortiNAC

FortiGate/FortiSwitch Configuration Port2

FortiGate/FortiSwitch Isolation VLAN

Running Config Wizard

Device Profiling

Scanning Devices for Profiling

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