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IPSec VPN Manual key IPSec VPNs
FortiGate-4000 Installation and Configuration Guide 237
In some respects, certificates are simpler to manage than manual keys or pre-shared
keys. For this reason, certificates are best suited to large network deployments.
Manual key IPSec VPNs
When using manual keys, complementary security parameters must be entered at
both ends of the tunnel. In addition to encryption and authentication algorithms and
keys, the security parameter index (SPI) is required. The SPI is an arbitrary value that
defines the structure of the communication between the peers. With other methods,
the SPI is generated automatically but with the manual key configuration it must be
entered as part of the VPN setup.
The encryption and authentication keys must match on the local and remote peers,
that is, the SPI values must be mirror images of each other. After you enter these
values, the VPN tunnel can start without a need for the authentication and encryption
algorithms to be negotiated. Provided you entered correct, complementary values, the
tunnels are established between the peers. This means that the tunnel already exists
between the peers. As a result, when traffic matches a policy requiring the tunnel, it
can be authenticated and encrypted immediately.
• General configuration steps for a manual key VPN
• Adding a manual key VPN tunnel
General configuration steps for a manual key VPN
A manual key VPN configuration consists of a manual key VPN tunnel, the source and
destination addresses for both ends of the tunnel, and an encrypt policy to control
access to the VPN tunnel.
To create a manual key VPN configuration
1 Add a manual key VPN tunnel. See “Adding a manual key VPN tunnel” on page 237.
2 Configure an encrypt policy that includes the tunnel, source address, and destination
address for both ends of the tunnel. See “Configuring encrypt policies” on page 249.
Adding a manual key VPN tunnel
Configure a manual key tunnel to create an IPSec VPN tunnel between the FortiGate
unit and a remote IPSec VPN client or gateway that is also using manual key.
To add a manual key VPN tunnel
1 Go to VPN > IPSec > Manual Key.
2 Select New to add a new manual key VPN tunnel.
3 Type a VPN Tunnel Name.
The name can contain numbers (0-9), uppercase and lowercase letters (A-Z, a-z), and
the special characters - and _. Other special characters and spaces are not allowed.
4 Enter the Local SPI.
The Local Security Parameter Index is a hexadecimal number of up to eight digits
(digits can be 0 to 9, a to f) in the range bb8 to FFFFFFF. This number must be added
to the Remote SPI at the opposite end of the tunnel.