(Full question statement start from here) You are planning to deploy FortiSwitch devices on your network. Your goal is to simplify management and…

The most direct and fundamental approach to simplify FortiSwitch management and ensure deep integration with the Fortinet Security Fabric is by using FortiLink to manage the FortiSwitch from a FortiGate. FortiLink is a proprietary Layer 2 protocol that establishes a management tunnel between the FortiGate and FortiSwitch devices. This method provides a single-pane-of-glass management experience directly from the FortiGate GUI, allowing administrators to configure switch ports, VLANs, and security policies seamlessly. This tight coupling extends the Security Fabric's visibility and control to the access layer, which is the primary goal stated in the question.

A. FortiSwitch-Manager is not a real Fortinet product. Management is performed via FortiGate, FortiManager, or FortiCloud.

B. While FortiManager is used for large-scale deployments, it typically manages the FortiGate, which in turn manages the FortiSwitch via FortiLink. FortiLink is the core integration technology itself.

C. FortiEdge Cloud is not a real Fortinet product name. The correct cloud management platform is FortiCloud, which offers standalone switch management but not the same level of Security Fabric integration as FortiLink.

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1. FortiSwitch Managed by FortiOS 7.6 Administration Guide, Introduction > FortiLink mode: "FortiLink is a proprietary Fortinet protocol that allows a Fortinet FortiGate to manage any Fortinet FortiSwitch. When a FortiSwitch is managed by a FortiGate, it is considered to be in FortiLink mode... FortiLink mode provides a single-pane-of-glass management for network security and the switch access layer." (Page 8)

2. Fortinet Document Library, "What's New in FortiOS 7.6.0", Security Fabric > Fabric connectors: The documentation consistently describes the FortiGate as the central point of management for integrating other Fortinet products, including FortiSwitch, into the Security Fabric via technologies like FortiLink.

3. FortiManager 7.6.0 Administration Guide, FortiSwitch Manager > Introduction: "You can use the FortiSwitch Manager pane to manage and monitor FortiSwitch devices that are connected to a FortiGate device." This confirms that FortiManager's role is to manage the FortiGate-FortiSwitch configuration, reinforcing that the underlying connection method is FortiLink. (Page 1385)