What methods can be used to access the FortiGate CLI?

Accessing the FortiGate CLI can be achieved through various methods, with a direct connection to the serial console port being one of the most straightforward and reliable options. Connecting to the serial console port allows users to interact with the FortiGate device at a low level, which is particularly useful for initial configurations, troubleshooting, and recovery processes when network connectivity may not be available.

This method provides a direct physical connection to the device, enabling real-time access to the command line interface without needing network configurations or remote access setup. It is typically used in scenarios where the device is newly deployed, or when there is a need to work on the system without relying on its networking capabilities.

The other methods involve connections that may not provide the same direct access benefits. For example, using SNMP is intended for monitoring and management tasks, but does not offer a command-line interface. The CLI console widget in the GUI provides a graphical user interface (GUI) experience but still requires network access to the device, and its usability may be limited compared to direct CLI access. RCP (Remote Copy Protocol) is not suitable for CLI access as it pertains to file transfer rather than interactive command execution.