FortressFlash is a handheld device that pushes vetted baseline configs over the console port. Built for MSP helpdesks and field techs who need repeatable results — fast.
Load signed config bundles from microSD and push via UART/RS-232 — no PC needed.
Guided steps, clear status, and error recovery designed for helpdesk techs.
Console-account scope today; roadmap includes signed boot, OTP-sealed keys, and encrypted logs.
Serial console works across platforms. Bench: FortiGate 60E; captured Palo Alto PA-200 console.
Current prototype targets FortiGate (specifically 60E). The serial dispatcher is CLI-oriented and adaptable to other vendors, current testing confirms connectivity with Palo Alto PA-200.
Console first MicroSD profiles UART ↔ RS-232
Meet Antony Johan Karels — engineer, dual citizen, and maker behind FortressFlash. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he traced family roots back to Wahl, Luxembourg, where his great-great-grandfather Johan Karels was born in 1833. In 2017 he reclaimed Luxembourg citizenship, and in 2024/25 returned to study in Luxembourg for the CYBERUS Master’s in Cybersecurity. Drawing on years of MSP experience and late-night lab tinkering, Antony turned his thesis prototype into FortressFlash — a secure, field-ready tool that lets helpdesk staff deploy firewalls with confidence.