How is the FortiGate password recovery process initiated?

The FortiGate password recovery process is initiated by logging in through the console port using the "maintainer" account. This method is specifically designed for password recovery situations, where the user needs to gain access to the FortiGate unit when they have lost or forgotten the password.

When you connect to the device via the console port, you can use the "maintainer" account, which allows for privileged access to the device, enabling you to reset the password or even restore the device to a default configuration if necessary. The maintainer account is a special account provided by Fortinet for this type of recovery process and does not require the usual administrative credentials, making it the most straightforward and effective way to regain access.

Other methods, while they may involve system recovery or reconfiguration, do not directly lead to the same access capabilities as using the maintainer account. Therefore, initiating the process through the console port with the maintainer account is the correct approach for recovering the password on a FortiGate firewall.