FortiNet Adds Carrier-Class Capacity To FortiGate Series

The FortiGate 4000 is a carrier-class system that can screen network traffic for viruses and worms at Gigabit Ethernet speeds, enabling large enterprises and service providers to offer users secure content in real network time. Unlike other FortiGate appliance products, the FortiGate 4000 is housed in a chassis, making it fully scalable, said Richard Kagan, vice president of marketing at FortiNet, Sunnyvale, Calif.

"Gigabit Ethernet speeds could allow service providers to scan 'in the cloud' for viruses for their DSL customers or screening of threats at service provider points," enabling greater protection at the network level, Kagan said.

The chassis allows users to add blades to handle increasing capacity, and the unit can house up to 10 FortiBlades. Managed service providers can have up to 250 virtual domains on each FortiBlade, for a total of 2,500 possible virtual domains on a fully loaded system, Kagan said.

Steve Goldsby, CEO of Integrated Computer Solutions, said the Montgomery, Ala.-based solution provider and FortiNet partner has been looking forward to the FortiGate 4000. "It has a lot of stuff we've been asking for," he said, adding that the product will enable the solution provider to "push a lot further" into the network operations center.

"We can get a lot of features and performance in one product," Goldsby said.

The FortiGate 4000 comes with the same features as the other FortiGate products and includes firewall, VPN, intrusion detection and prevention; antivirus, content filtering and traffic shaping, as well as FortiProtect services, which automatically updates FortiGate systems as new attacks arise. The next version will include antispam and virtual systems features, Kagan said.

The FortiGate 4000, which lists for $64,995, is available with a switch interface or a pass-through interface. FortiBlades carry a list price of $14,995. Beta availability is scheduled for this month.