Technical Tips: Firmware upgrade for FortiOS firmware 7.2 and later via the upgrade path (federated update)

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Description	This article describes how to perform firmware upgrade on an individual 7.2 or higher device by following the upgrade path (federated update).  FortiGate can adhere to the upgrade path to carry out the upgrade automatically when upgrading to firmware that requires it for several builds. This procedure is referred to as a federated update. A federated update can be executed right away or at a predetermined time.
Scope	FortiOS firmware 7.2 and later.
Solution	Individual device firmware can be upgraded by following the upgrade process in the GUI: Log in to the FortiGate GUI as the admin account to the FortiGate GUI. Select System -> Fabric Management from the menu. The Firmware Version column shows the version as well as either 'Feature' or 'Maturity'. The Feature tag indicates that the firmware release includes new features. The Mature tag indicates that the firmware release includes no new, major features. Mature firmware will contain bug fixes and vulnerability patches where applicable. Select the FortiGate and then select Upgrade. The FortiGate Upgrade pane will appear. Select All Upgrades from the Select Firmware section. The firmware versions that are currently available are displayed. View the upgrading options by selecting the target firmware. It is recommended to follow the upgrade path (referred to as a federated upgrade). In this example, the target firmware is 7.4.0 build 2360(GA). According to the upgrade path, the device can be upgraded directly to version 7.4.0 from version 7.2.3. For further validation, upgrade path can also be verified with the upgrade tool. Select Confirm and Backup Config and continue to initiate the upgrade. The FortiGate device saves the current configuration to the management computer, uploads the firmware image file, upgrades to the new firmware version, and restarts. This procedure only takes a few minutes.