NSE7 FortiLink Practice Question
An administrator wants to use a FortiGate to manage FortiSwitch units via the LAN. Which interface configuration is required on the FortiGate to allow this management?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates often assume that a trunk port is needed to carry multiple VLANs, but for FortiSwitch management, the interface must be configured as a switch type to enable FortiLink.
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
✓
The interface must have 'set type switch' enabled
The interface must have 'set type switch' enabled to manage FortiSwitch units. This configuration sets the interface as a FortiLink port, enabling automatic discovery, provisioning, and management of FortiSwitch devices. Trunk mode is not required; in fact, setting the interface as a trunk (set mode trunk) is for aggregating multiple ports or carrying multiple VLANs but does not enable FortiLink control protocols. Therefore, option D is correct.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The interface must have 'set role lan' configured
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Setting the role to 'lan' does not enable FortiLink management protocols.
- ✗
The interface must be configured as a 'trunk' mode to connect to the FortiSwitch
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Trunk mode (set mode trunk) is used for port aggregation or VLAN trunking but does not enable FortiLink control protocols.
- ✗
The interface must be a member of a VDOM
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. VDOM membership is unrelated to FortiLink management; the interface must be a physical or VLAN interface with switch type.
- ✓
The interface must have 'set type switch' enabled
Why this is correct
Correct. Setting 'set type switch' enables FortiLink, allowing the FortiGate to manage connected FortiSwitch units.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This NSE7 question is part of Courseiva's 718-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.