Fortinet FortiGate 501E

Legacy / end of life · renewals available

End-of-life 1U enterprise next-generation firewall built on Fortinet's NP6 and CP9 security processors, with 36 Gbps firewall throughput, 8 million concurrent sessions, two 480 GB onboard SSDs, eight GE ports, eight GE SFP slots and two 10 GE SFP+ slots. The FortiGate 501E hardware is winding down — FortiGuard and FortiCare renewals are still available below, and the FortiGate 600F is the direct, currently-shipping replacement.

KEY PERFORMANCE
Threat protection4.7 Gbps
Firewall throughput36 Gbps
NGFW throughput5 Gbps
Concurrent sessions8 M
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Fortinet FortiGate 501E (FG-501E) 1U firewallFortinet Select Partner
RENEWALS

FortiGate 501E licensing renewals

The FortiGate 501E hardware has reached end of life and is winding down. These FortiGuard and FortiCare renewals keep an installed unit licensed and supported. Licensing is delivered electronically worldwide.

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Subscriptions & renewals bundles

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Bundle includesEnterpriseUTPATP
Firewall hardware
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OVERVIEW

What the FortiGate 501E is for

The FortiGate 501E is an end-of-life 1U enterprise next-generation firewall from Fortinet's 500E series. Built on the NP6 and CP9 security processors, it delivers 36 Gbps of firewall throughput, 5 Gbps NGFW, 4.7 Gbps of threat protection and 8,000,000 concurrent sessions over eight GE RJ45 ports, eight GE SFP slots and two 10 GE SFP+ slots. The 501E reached end of order in 2021 and end of support in 2026, so the hardware is winding down; you can still renew its FortiGuard security services and FortiCare support to keep an installed unit protected, using the renewal bundles below.

When you are ready to replace it, the currently-shipping FortiGate 600F is the direct successor — a full-generation jump in firewall throughput, threat protection and 10/25 GE interface speeds in the same 1U class — and the FortiGate 900G steps up further with 16 million sessions and higher 10/25 GE density. See the upgrade path comparison below.

Fortinet FortiGate 501E 1U appliance
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RENEW OR UPGRADE

Renew the FortiGate 501E, or upgrade?

A quick guide to keeping your existing unit protected, or moving to a current FortiGate.

You run a FortiGate 501E today and want to keep it protected
Renew FortiGuard + FortiCare below
Renew →
Ready to replace it with a current, fully supported model
FortiGate 600F
View →
Need more sessions, throughput and 10/25 GE for growth
FortiGate 900G
View →
Need local storage for on-box logging and reporting
FortiGate 601F (onboard SSD)
View →
SPECIFICATIONS

FortiGate 501E specifications

Firewall throughput (1518 / 512 / 64 byte, UDP)36 / 36 / 22 Gbps
IPv6 firewall throughput (1518 / 512 / 64 byte, UDP)36 / 36 / 22 Gbps
Firewall latency (64 byte, UDP)2 µs
Firewall throughput (packets/sec)33 Mpps
Concurrent sessions (TCP)8,000,000
New sessions/second (TCP)300,000
Firewall policies10,000
IPS throughput (Enterprise mix)7.9 Gbps
NGFW throughput (Enterprise mix)5 Gbps
Threat protection throughput (Enterprise mix)4.7 Gbps
IPsec VPN throughput (512 byte)20 Gbps
Gateway-to-gateway IPsec VPN tunnels2,000
Client-to-gateway IPsec VPN tunnels50,000
SSL-VPN throughput5 Gbps
Concurrent SSL-VPN users (tunnel mode, rec. max)10,000
SSL inspection throughput (IPS, avg. HTTPS)5.7 Gbps
SSL inspection CPS (IPS, avg. HTTPS)3,500
SSL inspection concurrent sessions800,000
Application control throughput (HTTP 64K)14 Gbps
CAPWAP throughput (1444 byte, UDP)18 Gbps
Virtual domains (default / max)10 / 10
Managed FortiSwitches72
Managed FortiAPs (total / tunnel)512 / 256
Maximum FortiTokens5,000
Maximum registered endpoints2,000
High availabilityActive-Active, Active-Passive, Clustering
Hardware accelerationFortinet SPU (NP6 + CP9)
Interfaces8x GE RJ45 ports, 2x GE RJ45 management/HA, 8x GE SFP slots, 2x 10 GE SFP+ slots, 2x USB, 1x console (RJ45)
Onboard storage2x 480 GB SSD onboard (local logging & reporting)
Weight16.1 lbs (7.3 kg)
Form factor1U rack mount (EIA / non-EIA)
Dimensions (H x W x L)1.75 x 17 x 15 in (44.45 x 432 x 380 mm)
Power input100-240V AC, 50/60 Hz
Operating temperature32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C)
Storage temperature-31°F to 158°F (-35°C to 70°C)
Humidity10% to 90% non-condensing
Forced airflowSide and front to back
Operating altitudeUp to 7,400 ft (2,250 m)
ComplianceFCC Part 15 Class A, RCM, VCCI, CE, UL/cUL, CB
CertificationsICSA Labs (Firewall, IPsec, IPS, Antivirus, SSL-VPN); USGv6 / IPv6
Power consumption (avg / max)95 W / 193 W
Heat dissipation613 BTU/h
Noise level43 dBA
Maximum current6A (maximum)
Product lifecycleEnd of life (legacy) — end of order 2021, end of support 2026; renewals available; upgrade path: FortiGate 600F

Source: official Fortinet FortiGate 500E Series datasheet (FORTIGATE 501E column, FG-500E-DAT-R23-20210414). The 500E series shares system performance; the 501E differs from the 500E only by adding 2x 480 GB onboard SSDs for local logging and reporting. The datasheet button links to the FortiGate 500E series datasheet hosted on DataCenter360.ca.

Download the FortiGate 500E datasheet
USE CASES

Where the FortiGate 501E fits

Protect an installed unit
Keep an existing 501E covered with renewed FortiGuard security services and FortiCare support while you plan a refresh.
Campus & enterprise edge
1U NGFW for mid-size to large campus and enterprise edges, with eight GE ports, eight GE SFP slots, two 10 GE SFP+ slots and SD-WAN in FortiOS.
Plan an upgrade
Move to the FortiGate 600F or 900G for current hardware, far higher throughput and full FortiGuard AI-powered services.
Managed (MSSP)
Run centrally from FortiManager or FortiGate Cloud as part of a managed security service.
500E SERIES

Compare the FortiGate 500E series

Same 500E-series platform and 36 Gbps firewall performance across the line. The two models differ only by onboard storage — the 501E adds 2x 480 GB SSDs.

ModelPortsOnboard storage
FortiGate 500E8x GE RJ45 + 8x GE SFP + 2x 10 GE SFP+View →
FortiGate 501E8x GE RJ45 + 8x GE SFP + 2x 10 GE SFP+2x 480 GB SSDViewing
UPGRADE PATH

FortiGate 501E and its modern replacements

The FortiGate 501E is end of life. The FortiGate 600F is the direct, currently-shipping replacement with a full-generation jump in firewall throughput, threat protection and 10/25 GE interface speeds; the FortiGate 900G steps up further with 16 M sessions and higher density. Same FortiOS and FortiGuard services across the range.

You're here · EOL
FortiGate 501E
Threat protection4.7 Gbps
Firewall36 Gbps
NGFW5 Gbps
Concurrent sessions8 M
New sessions/sec300,000
Direct replacement
FortiGate 600F
Threat protection10.5 Gbps
Firewall139 Gbps
NGFW11.5 Gbps
Concurrent sessions8 M
New sessions/sec550,000
View the FortiGate 600F →
Step up
FortiGate 900G
Threat protection20 Gbps
Firewall164 Gbps
NGFW22 Gbps
Concurrent sessions16 M
New sessions/sec720,000
View the FortiGate 900G →
FULL CATALOG

All FortiGate 501E licensing options

Every licensing option still available for the FG-501E: FortiGuard + FortiCare renewal bundles, individual FortiGuard services, FortiCare support, and FortiGate Cloud management. Licensing is delivered electronically worldwide.

FortiGuard + FortiCare renewal bundlesMost popular

Compare the protection bundles
Bundle includesEnterpriseUTPATP
Firewall hardware
IPS, malicious/botnet URL
Anti-malware (AMP, sandbox, CDR)
URL, DNS & video filtering
Anti-spam
AI-based inline malware prevention
Data loss prevention (DLP)
Attack surface security
FortiCare Premium support
Filters Sort results
Reset Apply

Subscriptions & renewals bundles

Compare the protection bundles
Bundle includesEnterpriseUTPATP
Firewall hardware
IPS, malicious/botnet URL
Anti-malware (AMP, sandbox, CDR)
URL, DNS & video filtering
Anti-spam
AI-based inline malware prevention
Data loss prevention (DLP)
Attack surface security
FortiCare Premium support
Filters Sort results
Reset Apply

FortiCare support

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FortiGate Cloud management

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ACCESSORIES

Accessories for the FortiGate 501E

The FortiGate 501E ships as a 1U rack unit with mounting ears included. Populate its eight GE SFP slots and two 10 GE SFP+ slots with the right transceivers for your fiber or copper runs.

10 GE SFP+ SR transceiver (MMF, 300 m)
10 GE SFP+ SR transceiver (MMF, 300 m)
FN-TRAN-SFP+SR
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1 GE SFP SX transceiver (MMF, 500 m)
1 GE SFP SX transceiver (MMF, 500 m)
FN-TRAN-SX
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1 GE SFP RJ45 copper transceiver (30 m)
1 GE SFP RJ45 copper transceiver (30 m)
FN-TRAN-GC
View →
FAQ

FortiGate 501E - frequently asked questions

The FortiGate 501E (FG-501E) has reached end of life — end of order was 2021 and end of support is 2026. You can still renew FortiGuard security services and FortiCare support for an installed unit while it is in its renewal window, and we can quote the current FortiGate 600F as a direct replacement.

The FortiGate 600F is the direct, currently-shipping replacement — a full-generation jump in firewall throughput and threat protection with 10/25 GE interfaces in the same 1U class. There is no FortiGate 500F; the 500E migrates to the 600F. For more sessions and density, step up to the FortiGate 900G.

Yes, while the model is in its renewal window (end of support is 2026). Choose a FortiGuard + FortiCare renewal bundle (Enterprise, UTP or ATP) above, or renew individual FortiGuard services and FortiCare support. Licensing is delivered electronically worldwide.

The 500E delivers 36 Gbps firewall throughput, 7.9 Gbps IPS, 5 Gbps NGFW, 4.7 Gbps threat protection and 20 Gbps IPsec VPN, with 8,000,000 concurrent sessions and 300,000 new sessions per second, accelerated by Fortinet’s NP6 and CP9 security processors, over eight GE ports, eight GE SFP slots and two 10 GE SFP+ slots.

The FortiGate 501E and 500E share identical ports and security performance. The only difference is onboard storage: the 501E adds 2x 480 GB SSDs for local logging and reporting, while the 500E has none.

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