What are VDOMs on the FortiGate 100F and How Are They Used?
Virtual Domains, or VDOMs, are essentially virtual firewalls within a single FortiGate hardware unit. This means you can take one FortiGate 100F and logically divide it into multiple independent firewalls. Each VDOM operates as a self-contained security entity with its own configuration, policies, routing tables, and interfaces. This allows for complete isolation between different segments of your network, enhancing security and simplifying management.
The primary use case for VDOMs on the FortiGate 100F revolves around network segmentation. This is incredibly useful for:
- Multi-tenancy: Hosting different departments, business units, or even external clients on a single appliance while ensuring their data and traffic remain separate and secure.
- Regulatory Compliance: Meeting specific compliance requirements that mandate strict data segregation, such as in finance or healthcare.
- Network Simplification: Managing complex network infrastructures more efficiently by consolidating multiple physical firewalls into a single, manageable device.
- Testing and Development: Creating isolated environments for testing new configurations or applications without impacting production networks.
The FortiGate 100f Maximum Vdoms Datasheet specifies the maximum number of VDOMs the 100F model can support. This number is a critical factor when planning your network architecture. For instance, a typical configuration might look like this:
| VDOM Name | Purpose | Interfaces Assigned |
|---|---|---|
| Sales-VDOM | Sales Department Network | Port1, Port2 |
| Engineering-VDOM | Engineering Department Network | Port3, Port4 |
| Guest-WiFi-VDOM | Guest Wireless Network | Port5 |
The ability to deploy multiple VDOMs is a cornerstone of modern, scalable, and secure network designs. It provides granular control over traffic flow and security policies, allowing organizations to tailor their security posture to the specific needs of each network segment.
For detailed specifications and the precise number of VDOMs supported by the FortiGate 100F, please refer to the Fortigate 100f Maximum Vdoms Datasheet.