Loopback interfaces

Loopback interfaces

A loopback interface is a logical interface that is always up (no physical link dependency) and the attached subnet is always present in the routing table.

The FortiGate’s loopback IP address does not depend on one specific external port, and is therefore possible to access it through several physical or VLAN interfaces. Multiple loopback interfaces can be configured in either non-VDOM mode or in each VDOM.

Loopback interfaces still require appropriate firewall policies to allow traffic to and from this type of interface. A loopback interface can be used with:

  • Management access
  • BGP (TCP) peering
  • PIM RP

Loopback interfaces are a good practice for OSPF. Setting the OSPF router ID the same as loopback IP address troubleshooting OSPF easier, and remembering the management IP addresses (telnet to “router ID”).

Dynamic routing protocols can be enabled on loopback interfaces

For black hole static route, use the black hole route type instead of the loopback interface.


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This entry was posted in FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiOS 5.4 Handbook and tagged , on by .

About Mike

Michael Pruett, CISSP has a wide range of cyber-security and network engineering expertise. The plethora of vendors that resell hardware but have zero engineering knowledge resulting in the wrong hardware or configuration being deployed is a major pet peeve of Michael's. This site was started in an effort to spread information while providing the option of quality consulting services at a much lower price than Fortinet Professional Services. Owns PacketLlama.Com (Fortinet Hardware Sales) and Office Of The CISO, LLC (Cybersecurity consulting firm).

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