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FortiGate / FortiWiFi
Social WiFi has been tested and is proven to work on the following configurations:
FortiWiFi – wireless interfaces
- FortiOS version 5.6.0 and above (tested up to 7.0.1)
FortiGate hardware or virtual machine – wired interfaces
- recommended: FortiOS version 6.2.4 and above (tested up to 7.0.1)
- FortiOS version 5.6.0 and above work if the captive portal is enabled on a physical interface, VLAN interfaces are not supported below FortiOS 6.2.4
This guide assumes using the web based UI of the controller, which you can access by entering the IP address of the device in your browser. The screenshots are based on firmware v5.6.2.
Alternatively, if your device is managed from FortiCloud, you can access the management UI from there.
Go to User & Device → RADIUS Servers → Create New and use the following settings:
Name | Social WiFi |
---|---|
Primary Server IP/Name | 35.205.62.147 |
Primary Server Secret | |
Secondary Server IP/Name | Leave empty |
Secondary Server Secret | Leave empty |
Authentication Method | Specify |
Method | PAP |
NAS IP | Leave empty |
Press OK.
The login "pattern" for Test Connectivity is: test_RADIUS,
For password use the same credential.
​
For example, if my Radius Secret is "myradiussecret", my login would be "test_myradiussecret".

Now you need to change the RADIUS port to 31812. Open the CLI Console (top right corner, between “help†and username).

Copy (ctrl+C) and paste (ctrl+V) or type the following commands:
config user radius
edit "Social WiFi"
set radius-port 31812
next
end

Also, please add an Accounting server the same way (CLI Console):
config user radius
edit "Social WiFi"
config accounting-server
edit 1
set status enable
set server 35.205.62.147
set secret [RADIUS secret from the panel]
set port 31813
next
next
end

In the CLI console, enter the following commands:
config user setting
set auth-timeout-type idle-timeout
end
config user group
edit Social\ WiFi\ -\ Guest
set authtimeout 480
end
Where the "set authtimeout 480" is in minutes and you can adjust the value freely. This will make your users have to relogin after not being active in the network for 8 hours.

Then close the CLI console by clicking the “x†button in the top right corner.
Go to User & Device → User Groups → Create New

and use the following settings:
Name | Social WiFi - Guest |
---|---|
Type | Firewall |
Members | Leave empty |
Under Remote Groups, click Add and then select Social WiFi from the Remote Server dropdown list. Click OK to save and then click OK again.


Now we need to add all the services that will be available without logging in. This list includes Social WiFi login page and third-party social login services (like Facebook, Google). The following guide assumes firmware version 5.6.2, which doesn’t support domains with wildcard (e.g. “*.facebook.comâ€). Using wildcards was added in firmware 6.2.2, so if you have that version or higher, you may adjust the following steps accordingly.
The suggested way to add all required entries, is to use the CLI again to copy (ctrl+C) and paste (ctrl+V) the following scripts. Please note, that the script is split into two parts, because there’s a length limit that cannot be exceeded.
Note: A regional Google domain according to your geographic location has to be added to make Google login work. Please edit the “Social WiFi – Google 1 – regional†value below accordingly, e.g. if you’re based in UK, add “accounts.google.co.ukâ€.
Part 1:
# Social WiFi main service
config firewall address
edit "Social WiFi - main 1"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "login.socialwifi.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - main 2"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "sw-login.com"
next
end
config firewall addrgrp
edit "Social WiFI - main"
set member "Social WiFi - main 1" "Social WiFi - main 2"
next
end
​
# Facebook remarketing pixel
config firewall address
edit "Social WiFi - Facebook pixel 1"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "connect.facebook.net"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Facebook pixel 2"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "www.facebook.com"
next
end
config firewall addrgrp
edit "Social WiFI - Facebook pixel"
set member "Social WiFi - Facebook pixel 1" "Social WiFi - Facebook pixel 2"
next
end
​
# Google remarketing tag
config firewall address
edit "Social WiFi - Google tag 1"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "www.googletagmanager.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Google tag 2"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "www.googleadservices.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Google tag 3"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "googleads.g.doubleclick.net"
next
end
config firewall addrgrp
edit "Social WiFI - Google tag"
set member "Social WiFi - Google tag 1" "Social WiFi - Google tag 2" "Social WiFi - Google tag 3"
next
end
​
# Google login
config firewall address
edit "Social WiFi - Google 1 - regional"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "accounts.google.co.uk"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Google 2"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "accounts.google.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Google 3"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "ssl.gstatic.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Google 4"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "fonts.gstatic.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Google 5"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "accounts.youtube.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Google 6"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "content.googleapis.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Google 7"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "apis.google.com"
next
end
config firewall addrgrp
edit "Social WiFi - Google"
set member "Social WiFi - Google 1 - regional" "Social WiFi - Google 2" "Social WiFi - Google 3" "Social WiFi - Google 4" "Social WiFi - Google 5" "Social WiFi - Google 6" "Social WiFi - Google 7"
next
end
​
# Facebook login
config firewall address
edit "Social WiFi - Facebook 1"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "www.facebook.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Facebook 2"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "facebook.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Facebook 3"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "static.xx.fbcdn.net"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Facebook 4"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "external-frt3-2.xx.fbcdn.net"
next
end
config firewall addrgrp
edit "Social WiFi - Facebook"
set member "Social WiFi - Facebook 1" "Social WiFi - Facebook 2" "Social WiFi - Facebook 3" "Social WiFi - Facebook 4"
next
end
Part 2:
# Twitter login
config firewall address
edit "Social WiFi - Twitter 1"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "twitter.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Twitter 2"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "api.twitter.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Twitter 3"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "pbs.twimg.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Twitter 4"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "abs-0.twimg.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - Twitter 5"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "abs.twimg.com"
next
end
config firewall addrgrp
edit "Social WiFi - Twitter"
set member "Social WiFi - Twitter 1" "Social WiFi - Twitter 2" "Social WiFi - Twitter 3" "Social WiFi - Twitter 4" "Social WiFi - Twitter 5"
next
end
​
# LinkedIn login
config firewall address
edit "Social WiFi - LinkedIn 1"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "www.linkedin.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - LinkedIn 2"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "static-exp1.licdn.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - LinkedIn 3"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "media-exp1.licdn.com"
next
edit "Social WiFi - LinkedIn 4"
set type fqdn
set fqdn "static.licdn.com"
next
end
config firewall addrgrp
edit "Social WiFi - LinkedIn"
set member "Social WiFi - LinkedIn 1" "Social WiFi - LinkedIn 2" "Social WiFi - LinkedIn 3" "Social WiFi - LinkedIn 4"
next
end
​
# Group everything in one group
config firewall addrgrp
edit "Social WiFi"
set member "Social WiFI - main" "Social WiFI - Facebook pixel" "Social WiFI - Google tag" "Social WiFi - Google" "Social WiFi - Facebook" "Social WiFi - Twitter" "Social WiFi - LinkedIn"
next
end
Go to WiFi & Switch Controller → SSID and set the "Broadcast SSID" toggle off.


Press OK and Create New SSID.
If you already have an existing WiFi network, edit it accordingly instead (you can skip to the “WiFi Settings†part).

Interface configuration:
Interface Name | Social WiFi |
---|---|
Alias | sw interface |
Type | WiFi SSID |
Traffic Mode | Tunnel |
IP/Network Mask | 10.8.0.1/255.255.0.0 |
DHCP Server | Enabled |
Address Range | Should be prefilled, if not, use 10.8.0.2 – 10.8.255.254 |
Netmask | Should be prefilled, if not, use 255.255.0.0 |

WiFi Settings:
SSID | Social WiFi (or any name that you prefer) |
---|---|
Security Mode | Captive Portal |
Portal Type | Authentication |
Authentication Portal | External: http://login.socialwifi.com/ |
User Groups | Social WiFi – Guest |
Exempt Sources | Leave empty |
Exempt Destinations/Services | Social WiFi (in ADDRESS GROUP tab, scroll down if it's hidden) |
Redirect after Captive Portal | Original request |

Press OK.
You can also run Social WiFi on a wired, physical interface and plug access points there. In this scenario those access points don’t have to be managed by the FortiGate unit.
Go to Network → Interfaces and double-click on the interface that you want to install Social WiFi on and configure as follows:
Interface Name | *any lan interface you want Social WiFi on |
---|---|
Alias | socialwifi-lan* |
Role | LAN |
Addressing mode | Manual |
IP/Network Mask | 10.8.0.1/255.255.0.0 |
IPv4 | Leave unchecked |
DHCP Server | Enabled |
Address range | Should be autofilled, if not - copy from the image below |
Security Mode | Captive Portal |
Authentication Portal | External: http://login.socialwifi.com/ |
User Access | Restricted to Groups |
User Groups | Social WiFi – Guest |
Customize Portal Messages | Unchecked |
Exempt Sources | Leave empty |
Exempt Destinations/Services | Social WiFi |


Press OK.
You need to allow for traffic from guests using the WiFi, because the default policy is to deny all traffic.
Go to Policy & Objects → IPv4 Policy → Create New and use the following settings:
Name | Social WiFi Allow Guests |
---|---|
Incoming Interface | Social WiFi (the interface created or edited in the previous point) |
Outgoing Interface | wan1 (your WAN interface) |
Source | all |
Destination | all |
Service | ALL |
Action | ACCEPT |
Press OK.

The setup of the controller is now finished. The last step is to add the MAC address(es) to the Social WiFi platform.
Usually the MAC address will be printed on a label on the device itself. It should be visible in the GUI as well on the edit interface screen. If you don’t know the MAC address, please contact Social WiFi Support.
Now, switch to Social WiFi Panel, go to Access Points tab, click the Add button and paste the MAC address(es). Click Create.
Connect with the WiFi network. You should see a login page. Go through the login process and, once finished, you should have internet access. You should see first connections and authorisations in the Social WiFi Panel’s statistics section.
If you have any external firewall behind the FortiGate device, please make sure that you enable these ports:
- TCP/8080 (Captive Portal (http redirection))
- TCP/8081 (Captive Portal (https redirection)
- UDP/9177, 337008 (AP Communication (Capture Packets subsystem))
Last modified 10d ago