Category Archives: Scripting

Wipe a Fortinet FortiGate Firewall – Delete All Logs and Configuration – Script

On occasion, I have found that I have the need to not only wipe a Fortinet Fortigate Firewall’s configuration, settings, and logs, but to actually verify that the contents of the logs were wiped out. The script below will allow you to do this.

I would recommend using PuTTY with logging enabled to document your progress. With some modification this may work on other Fortinet devices. Note that you will have to modify the script to add any custom VDOMs you may have on your device.

I would highly recommend backing up your configuration and any logs that you need to retain, as I know of no way to undo this. Use the following script at your own risk!

#-------------------------------#
#Fortinet Device wipe - Supports CTAP Units
#Version: 1.02
#Update: 2018-11-06
#Notes: For systems without VDOMs enabled,
#the config lines will produce an error, however

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Mapped Drives Not Showing in Windows

Do you have a script that maps drive letters to different network attached storage (NAS) locations on Windows machines? Are those mapped drives not showing up under This PC or My Computer in the Windows GUI? If you run:

net use

The drives show up. You can even test connectivity by running:

cd t:
echo "test text" > testfile.txt
ls

Unfortunately the drives still don’t show up within the GUI.

The solution in my case was to first remove all mappings by running:

net use /delete *
net use

The second command is used to confirm there are no mappings. It is best to now reboot your computer and prevent the mapping script from running.

After rebooting, using the Windows GUI, This PC, My Computer, File Explorer, etc. browse to your network location by typing \\storagelocation in the address bar (this can even be the IP of the device.) Map the first drive manually by right clicking on the folder you want and clicking on Map Network Drive. Follow through the prompts and make sure the drive shows up. This may vary a little depending on whether you are on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows Server 2012, etc. If the drive still doesn’t show up, you may want to check some of the other solutions below. You can now continue running the rest of your network mapping script.

Another interesting oddity I found on a freshly installed Windows 10 box… If you run the net use commands from PowerShell using the Windows PowerShell (Admin) link or by right clicking and running PowerShell as Administrator, those connected drives are not available to Windows via the GUI!

Other suggested solutions found around the web:

  • Uncheck “Hide empty drives”
    • Click Start and type Folder Options and pressEnter
    • Click the View tab
    • Uncheck Hide empty drives in the Computer folder
  • Check Group Policies
  • Check the Registry
    • Browse to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
      • If the NoDrives key is listed, back up and then delete the key
      • Note that this is the same as modifying the Group Policy
  • Check your security software

 

 

Windows Can’t Change Public Network to Private Network – solved

If you can’t change your Public Network to a Private Network on a Windows 10 PC or Windows Server 2012 box, I have the solution for you!

 

Short version… Run the following PowerShell commands as an Administrator. Modify the 2nd command to match the InterfaceIndex of the network you want to change from the first command.

Get-NetConnectionProfile
Set-NetConnectionProfile -InterfaceIndex 7 -NetworkCategory Private

I’m new to PowerShell (or “What’s PowerShell?”) and I need more info!

 

Are you having trouble connecting to your Windows 10 or Windows Server 2012 computer via RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) or another service like TeamViewer? It may be because your active network is set to a Public network. The problem is that when you go to “Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network and Sharing Center” you are unable to change the Public Network to a Private network because it it “greyed out” or the dropdown is gone altogether.

This is what mine looked like:

Can't change Public Network to a Private Network on Windows 10 PC or Windows Server 2012

The best option I’ve found is a simple PowerShell command to fix it.

If you are new to PowerShell… Click on Start, scroll down to W, find the Windows PowerShell folder, click to expand it, now, *this is important*, RIGHT click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as Administrator. A blue screen with white writing should open up – if this screen doesn’t say “Administrator: ” at the top, the 2nd command below will likely fail.

Type the following followed by Enter:

Get-NetConnectionProfile

Find the line that says InterfaceIndex and make note of the number. If you have multiple networks you may have to change more than one.

Now type the following, but modify the number to match the InterfaceIndex you want to modify, then hit enter:

Set-NetConnectionProfile -InterfaceIndex 7 -NetworkCategory Private

At minimum this should get this network setting resolved! If this didn’t solve your actual problem, check your firewall settings and your security software!