Fortinet FortiGate 121G FG-121G 16-Port 1U Rackmount Firewall with 480GB SSD
Overview
The FortiGate 120G Series is a 1RU rack-mount platform with dedicated management and HA interfaces, published SSL-VPN performance figures, and support for up to 16,000 client-to-gateway IPsec VPN tunnels. It carries sixteen gigabit RJ45 ports, eight gigabit SFP slots and four 10 GE SFP+ FortiLink slots, and suits advanced edge protection and network segmentation at a campus edge. Its dual power supplies give 1+1 redundancy as standard, though they are not hot-swappable. The FG-121G is the stored variant, adding a 480 GB SSD so logging and reporting can stay on the appliance instead of depending on a collector; the FG-120G is the otherwise closely matched model without the SSD. FortiOS forwards both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic; Fortinet does not publish a routing-protocol list for this appliance in the datasheet, which is why the specification table records the protocols as not published while stating IPv6 support.
Technical Details
The Fortinet FortiGate 121G FG-121G is a 1U rack-mount next-generation firewall with sixteen gigabit Ethernet copper ports, eight gigabit SFP slots and four 10 GE SFP+ FortiLink slots and a 480 GB SSD, running FortiOS. Firewall throughput is 39 / 39 / 28 Gbps at 1518, 512 and 64-byte UDP, and threat protection throughput is 2.8 Gbps on the Enterprise Traffic Mix with logging enabled. IPsec VPN throughput is 35 Gbps at 512 bytes with AES256-SHA256, and SSL inspection throughput is 3 Gbps with IPS on average HTTPS. It holds 3 million concurrent TCP sessions and opens 140,000 new sessions per second. It operates from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius and is used at a campus or main-office internet edge, in the DMZ and for segmentation.
Best For
The FG-121G suits a campus or main-office internet edge that needs 2.8 Gbps of threat protection throughput with 3 million concurrent sessions behind it. Its sixteen gigabit Ethernet copper ports, eight gigabit SFP slots and four 10 GE SFP+ FortiLink slots cover the port requirement. Firewall throughput is 39 Gbps at 1518-byte UDP and 28 Gbps at 64 bytes, which is the headroom on uninspected traffic, while 2.8 Gbps is the figure to size against once inspection is on. Choose it over the FG-120G where logs need to be retained on the appliance itself.
Not suitable if:
- you already send all logging to FortiAnalyzer, FortiGate Cloud or a syslog collector, since the onboard storage would then go unused
- you need Power over Ethernet for cameras or access points, since this appliance provides none
- your inspected traffic exceeds 2.8 Gbps, since that is the published threat protection throughput
- you need a hardened appliance for a plant floor or outdoor cabinet, since this unit is rated only from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius
FG-121G Specifications
| Ports & Uplinks | |
|---|---|
| Fixed Interfaces | 16×1GbE RJ45, 8×1GbE SFP, 4×10GbE SFP+ |
| Max Port Speed | 10 GbE |
| Management & Console Ports | 1×1GbE RJ45 management, 1×1GbE RJ45 HA, 1×RJ45 console, 1×USB |
| Performance & Scale | |
| Firewall Throughput | 39 / 39 / 28 Gbps (1518 / 512 / 64-byte UDP) |
| Threat Prevention Throughput | 2.8 Gbps (Enterprise Traffic Mix, logging enabled) |
| TLS/SSL Inspection Throughput | 3 Gbps (IPS, average HTTPS) |
| IPsec VPN Throughput | 35 Gbps (512-byte, AES256-SHA256) |
| Hardware & Memory | |
| Onboard Storage | 1×480 GB SSD |
| Power & Thermal | |
| Power Supply | 100-240V AC input (50-60 Hz); dual non-swappable AC power supplies for 1+1 redundancy; maximum current 1.0A @100V, 0.5A @240V |
| Redundant Power Supply | Yes |
| Maximum Power Consumption | 47 W (43 W average) |
| Cooling | Front-to-back airflow |
| Physical & Environmental | |
| Operating System | FortiOS |
| Form Factor | 1U Rackmount |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.73 × 17.0 × 10.0 in (4.4 × 43.2 × 25.4 cm) |
| Weight | 12.17 lb (5.52 kg) |
| Operating Temperature | 32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C) |
| Software | |
| Central Management Platform | FortiManager, FortiGate Cloud |
| Routing Protocols & IPv6 | Routing protocols not published; IPv6 supported |
| Other | |
| Maximum Concurrent Sessions | 3,000,000 (TCP) |
| New Sessions per Second | 140,000 (TCP) |
| Maximum IPsec VPN Tunnels | 2,000 gateway-to-gateway, 16,000 client-to-gateway |
| High Availability | Active/Active, Active/Passive, Clustering |
FG-121G Accessories
| Optional Accessories | 1 GE SFP SX/LX/RJ45 Transceivers, 10 GE SFP+ RJ45/LR/ER/SR Transceivers, 10 GE SFP+ Passive Direct Attach Cables (1m, 3m, 5m) |
FAQ
Does the Fortinet FortiGate 121G FG-121G support PoE?
No. The FG-121G provides no Power over Ethernet on any port, so cameras, access points and IP phones need their own power source or a PoE switch between them and the firewall. Its interfaces are sixteen gigabit Ethernet copper ports, eight gigabit SFP slots and four 10 GE SFP+ FortiLink slots, all data-only. Within the FortiGate G series PoE appears on separate part numbers, not on this one.
What transceivers do the SFP slots on the FG-121G use?
The appliance has eight GE SFP slots and four separate 10 GE SFP+ FortiLink slots. Fortinet lists compatible 1 GE SFP and 10 GE SFP+ transceiver modules in the ordering information. Transceivers are sold separately.
How does high availability work on the Fortinet FortiGate 121G FG-121G?
The FG-121G supports Active-Active, Active-Passive and Clustering high-availability modes. An HA pair should be two identical models running the same FortiOS build, and the units synchronise configuration and session state over the HA link. This model has a dedicated HA port.
How much traffic can the FG-121G handle?
Fortinet publishes no user count for the FG-121G, so size it on the capacity figures. Firewall throughput is 39 / 39 / 28 Gbps at 1518, 512 and 64-byte UDP. Small packets cost throughput. Threat protection throughput is 2.8 Gbps once IPS, application control and malware protection are enabled, and SSL inspection throughput is 3 Gbps; size against those. It holds 3 million concurrent TCP sessions and opens 140,000 new sessions per second. All values are stated as up to.
What is the difference between the FG-121G and the FG-120G?
Their interface layout and published performance specifications are the same: the FG-120G is the otherwise closely matched model without the SSD. Power consumption differs between the two models while the published weight is the same, so read each model's own row in the specification table. Both run the same FortiOS build and take the same FortiGuard subscriptions.
Does the FG-121G require a subscription to operate?
No. Core firewall, routing and networking functions can continue to operate without an active FortiGuard subscription, while subscription-based security intelligence, updates and services require an active subscription. A FortiGuard subscription supplies IPS signatures, anti-malware, URL and DNS filtering and the rest of the catalogue, along with FortiCare support. This plain part number is the appliance on its own, with FortiGuard services and FortiCare sold separately. The FG-121G-BDL part numbers bundle a prepaid subscription for one, three or five years.
What condition is the FG-121G sold in, and what warranty applies?
Network Devices Inc. supplies the FG-121G new and factory sealed, in original Fortinet packaging with the standard accessories. It is covered by a one-year Network Devices Inc. warranty and a 30-day return window. Because the unit is new rather than renewed, it is eligible for Fortinet registration and for FortiCare and FortiGuard entitlements ordered against it, which is not always the case with refurbished stock. Orders ship from our New Jersey and Texas warehouses.
