NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
An administrator is configuring a FortiGate as a LAN edge device with FortiSwitch and FortiAP. Which feature must be enabled on the FortiGate to centrally manage the FortiSwitch and FortiAP devices?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse CAPWAP (a standard wireless control protocol) with FortiLink, not realizing that Fortinet uses FortiLink as a unified management protocol for both wired and wireless devices, and that CAPWAP is not the correct answer even though it is a valid wireless management protocol in other ecosystems.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
FortiLink
FortiLink is the proprietary protocol that enables a FortiGate to centrally manage FortiSwitch and FortiAP devices as logical extensions of the FortiGate itself. When FortiLink is enabled on a FortiGate interface, the FortiGate automatically discovers, provisions, and manages connected FortiSwitch and FortiAP units, handling VLAN assignment, PoE control, and firmware synchronization without requiring separate management platforms.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
CAPWAP
Why it's wrong here
CAPWAP is used for AP management but typically requires a separate controller; FortiGate uses FortiLink.
- ✗
LLDP
Why it's wrong here
LLDP is for neighbor discovery, not management.
- ✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP is for monitoring, not management.
- ✓
FortiLink
Why this is correct
FortiLink is the proprietary protocol for managing FortiSwitch and FortiAP from FortiGate.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This NSE7 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Fortinet certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the NSE7 exam.