Description

The FMG-VM-BASE is the base licensing component for Fortinet FortiManager-VM, a virtualized centralized management platform designed to simplify the administration of Fortinet security devices across distributed networks.

Instead of individually configuring and monitoring each Fortinet appliance, FortiManager provides a centralized management environment for managing configurations, policies, devices, administrative domains, and network-security operations.

The FMG-VM-BASE license establishes the initial management capacity for up to 10 Fortinet devices/Virtual Domains (VDOMs). Fortinet’s documentation confirms that FortiManager-VM uses a stackable licensing model, allowing organizations to purchase additional capacity as their infrastructure expands.

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Key Features

• Brand: Fortinet
• Product: FortiManager-VM
• SKU: FMG-VM-BASE
• License Type: Base License
• Deployment: Virtual Appliance
• Licensed Devices/VDOMs: Up to 10
• Administrative Domains: Up to 10 in the perpetual VM-BASE licensing model
• Licensing Model: Stackable
• Expansion: Additional device/VDOM capacity can be added using upgrade licenses
• Platform: Supported FortiManager-VM virtual appliance platforms
• Centralized Management: Yes
• Configuration Management: Yes
• Policy Management: Yes
• Fortinet Device Management: Yes
• Virtual Domain Management: Supported

Fortinet documents VM-BASE as the foundation of its stackable FortiManager-VM perpetual licensing model.

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Centralized Fortinet Device Management

FortiManager-VM provides a centralized management platform for Fortinet network-security devices.

With the FMG-VM-BASE license, organizations can manage up to 10 licensed devices/VDOMs from a centralized management environment.

This can help network administrators:

• Configure multiple Fortinet devices
• Deploy consistent security policies
• Manage device configurations
• Monitor managed infrastructure
• Organize devices into administrative domains
• Standardize network-security operations
• Reduce repetitive device-by-device administration

Fortinet’s current FortiManager information identifies 10 devices/VDOMs as the default capacity for the FortiManager VM platform.

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Virtual Domain (VDOM) Licensing

FortiManager licensing counts devices and VDOMs as managed network-device units.

For FortiManager VM, Fortinet explains that:

• A FortiGate without VDOMs counts as 1 license
• A FortiGate with VDOMs counts according to its licensed VDOMs
• Each VDOM can therefore consume a management license
• Secondary FortiGate units in HA do not incur an additional license count under the applicable rules

This makes the FMG-VM-BASE license suitable for organizations managing either standalone Fortinet appliances or environments that make extensive use of VDOM-based segmentation.

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Stackable Licensing

One of the major advantages of FMG-VM-BASE is its expandable licensing architecture.

Fortinet’s perpetual FortiManager-VM licensing model allows additional capacity to be added through stackable upgrade licenses.

For example:

Fortinet specifically documents the VM-BASE plus stackable upgrade model, allowing organizations to scale their FortiManager deployment as the number of managed devices increases.

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Scalable Network Management

The stackable design allows businesses to start with a smaller management deployment and expand without replacing the underlying virtual FortiManager appliance.

For example, an organization could begin with:

FMG-VM-BASE → 10 devices/VDOMs

and later add:

FMG-VM-10-UG → additional 10 devices/VDOMs

Additional upgrade licenses can be added as the environment grows.

This is particularly useful for organizations implementing Fortinet infrastructure in phases.

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Administrative Domains (ADOMs)

FortiManager uses Administrative Domains (ADOMs) to separate managed devices according to organizational, geographical, or operational requirements.

ADOMs can be useful for:

• Different business departments
• Different subsidiaries
• Multiple customers
• Different geographic locations
• Separate network-security environments
• Multi-tenant management

Fortinet documentation identifies 10 ADOMs / devices for the FMG-VM-BASE perpetual license model.

Note: Fortinet’s licensing behavior and ADOM entitlements can differ between perpetual and subscription FortiManager-VM licensing models. The license entitlement associated with the specific SKU should therefore be used as the final procurement reference.

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Centralized Configuration Management

FortiManager helps administrators centrally manage configurations across Fortinet devices.

This can reduce the need to log into each individual firewall and manually repeat configuration tasks.

Centralized management can help with:

• Configuration consistency
• Device provisioning
• Policy deployment
• Configuration revisions
• Standardized templates
• Change management
• Network administration

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Policy Management

FortiManager provides centralized management capabilities for Fortinet security policies.

Administrators can develop and deploy policies across managed FortiGate devices, helping organizations maintain consistent security controls.

This is particularly valuable in environments where multiple firewalls need to follow standardized corporate security policies.

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Centralized Operations

The FortiManager platform is designed to provide a centralized operational view of managed Fortinet infrastructure.

This can simplify administration of:

• FortiGate firewalls
• Multiple VDOMs
• Distributed network environments
• Branch-office security infrastructure
• Enterprise security deployments

The platform is designed to scale from relatively small environments to deployments involving thousands of managed Fortinet devices when additional licenses are added. Fortinet states that FortiManager-VM licenses can be stacked to significantly increase the number of managed devices/VDOMs.

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Virtual Appliance Deployment

Unlike a physical FortiManager appliance, FortiManager-VM is deployed as a virtual appliance.

This provides organizations with flexibility to run FortiManager within supported virtualization environments rather than requiring dedicated physical management hardware.

Fortinet describes FortiManager virtual machines as virtual versions of its hardware appliances designed to run across supported virtualization platforms.

The specific hypervisor and supported configuration should be verified against the FortiManager version being deployed.

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Flexible Infrastructure Integration

A virtual FortiManager deployment can be integrated into an organization’s existing virtualization infrastructure.

Depending on the supported platform and FortiManager release, virtual deployment can be used within environments based on supported:

• Virtualization platforms
• Private-cloud infrastructure
• Public-cloud environments

Fortinet notes that current hypervisor support should be checked against the release notes for the particular FortiManager version being deployed.

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License Type

The FMG-VM-BASE SKU belongs to Fortinet’s FortiManager-VM licensing architecture.

Fortinet documents both perpetual and subscription FortiManager-VM offerings. The perpetual VM licensing model uses stackable base and upgrade licenses, while newer subscription offerings use separate subscription SKUs.

For an online store, it is therefore important to clearly identify this product as a FortiManager-VM Base License rather than representing it as a physical appliance.

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Important Licensing Considerations

10 Devices/VDOMs

The FMG-VM-BASE license provides the base capacity for 10 licensed devices/VDOMs in the applicable perpetual licensing model.

Stackable Expansion

Additional capacity can be added using compatible FortiManager-VM upgrade licenses.

Virtual Appliance

This SKU is a software license, not a physical FortiManager appliance.

Hardware Requirements

The license does not represent the underlying virtualization infrastructure. CPU, memory, storage, and network resources must be allocated according to the FortiManager version and deployment requirements.

Support

FMG-VM-BASE is a license SKU. Support services may be purchased separately depending on the applicable Fortinet licensing model and commercial configuration.

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Ideal Applications

Small & Medium-Sized Fortinet Deployments

The base 10-device capacity makes the license suitable for organizations starting centralized Fortinet management.

Branch Networks

Organizations can centrally manage FortiGate firewalls deployed across multiple branch offices.

Enterprise Network Management

Useful as the starting point for centralized management of distributed Fortinet infrastructure.

Multi-Location Organizations

Administrative domains can help separate devices by location, department, or business unit.

Managed Service Providers

The ability to manage devices/VDOMs through administrative domains can support structured management environments, subject to the applicable licensing terms.

Growing Networks

The stackable architecture allows management capacity to increase as additional Fortinet devices are deployed.

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Key Benefits

Centralized Management

Manage multiple Fortinet devices from a centralized virtual management platform.

10-Device Base Capacity

The FMG-VM-BASE provides capacity for up to 10 devices/VDOMs in the applicable perpetual licensing model.

Scalable

Additional device/VDOM capacity can be added through stackable upgrade licenses.

Virtual Deployment

Runs as a FortiManager virtual appliance on supported virtualization infrastructure.

Simplified Administration

Reduces the need for repetitive device-by-device configuration.

Centralized Policy Management

Helps administrators establish consistent policies across managed Fortinet devices.

Administrative Segmentation

ADOM capabilities help organize managed infrastructure according to organizational or operational requirements.

Future Expansion

Organizations can increase their FortiManager capacity as their Fortinet environment grows.

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Technical Specifications

The 10-device/VDOM base capacity and stackable licensing structure are documented by Fortinet.

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What’s Included

The FMG-VM-BASE product provides:

• FortiManager-VM Base License
• Management capacity for up to 10 Fortinet devices/VDOMs
• Applicable administrative-domain capability
• Stackable licensing foundation for future expansion
• Use with supported FortiManager-VM virtual appliance platforms

Physical FortiManager hardware is not included.

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Product Summary

The Fortinet FMG-VM-BASE FortiManager-VM Base License is an ideal starting point for organizations that need centralized management of their Fortinet security infrastructure through a virtual appliance.

Supporting up to 10 Fortinet devices/VDOMs in the applicable perpetual licensing model, the license provides a scalable foundation for centralized device and configuration management. Its stackable licensing architecture allows organizations to add capacity as their network expands, using additional FortiManager-VM upgrade licenses.