Fortigate Hardware switch, Software switch, VLAN switch

 

https://community.fortinet.com/t5/FortiGate/Technical-Tip-Hardware-switch-Software-switch-VLAN-switch-Use/ta-p/210153

'HW Switch' which was initially of 'Hardware Switch' type is now showing as 'VLAN Switch' after enabling 'VLAN Switch'

example:

Fortigate70F, out of box, all 5 LAN ports in VLAN switch type interface call internal 

in CLI, it shows as hardware-switch 

FortiGate-70F # config system interface

FortiGate-70F (interface) # edit "internal"

FortiGate-70F (internal) # show

config system interface

    edit "internal"

        set vdom "root"

        set ip 10.20.20.1 255.255.255.0

        set allowaccess ping https ssh fgfm fabric

        set type hard-switch

        set alias "LAN"

        set stp enable

        set role lan

        set snmp-index 15

    next

end

FortiGate-70F (internal) #

Multiple VLAN switches can be created.

Software-switch has a few extra options like can act as Hub

Recommended- Hardware switch use less resources, but less flexible in setup.