143-425 · Question #122
Which action is performed by an Access Gateway (AG) during the N_Port login process?
The correct answer is C. FLOGI from the AG connected host is converted to FDISC by the AG. See the full explanation below for the reasoning.
Question
Which action is performed by an Access Gateway (AG) during the N_Port login process?
Options
- AN_Ports perform the PLOGI command and the acceptance sequence with the fabric.
- BFDISC is used by the host to discover the AG.
- CFLOGI from the AG connected host is converted to FDISC by the AG.
- DFDISC is used by the AG device to discover the attached fabric.
How the community answered
(53 responses)- A11% (6)
- B8% (4)
- C77% (41)
- D4% (2)
Community Discussion
8
Prof. SaraMay 31, 2026The correct answer is C. The Access Gateway sits between host N_Ports and the core fabric switch, and it intercepts each host FLOGI before it reaches the fabric. Because the AG has already claimed its own FLOGI slot with the upstream switch, it cannot forward another FLOGI without conflicting with its own fabric session, so it translates that host FLOGI into a FDISC and forwards the FDISC to the fabric on the host's behalf. A handy memory hook is "AG Converts Forward Login Into Discover," which keeps the direction of the translation straight. Option D trips up a lot of test-takers because it swaps the roles, the AG itself uses FLOGI when first attaching to the fabric, and FDISC is what gets used for the devices sitting behind it, not the AG device discovering the fabric.
Anjali D.Jun 2, 2026That memory hook is clever but I would flip the payoff, the part worth drilling is not the direction but the why, namely that the fabric only needs one N_Port session from the AG and FDISC lets each host behind it get its own FCID without burning another FLOGI slot.
Luis F.May 18, 2026Saw this exact one on my exam last month and I almost picked D because I got confused about which device was doing the discovering, but then I remembered that the AG is basically acting as a proxy, so it makes sense that it intercepts the host FLOGI and converts it to FDISC so the fabric sees a virtual N_Port instead. Answer is C, the AG does the conversion, the host has no idea it is even talking through an AG.
Fatima Z.May 21, 2026Exactly right, and the hook I use to nail it every time is "AG Fakes the DISCO," meaning the Access Gateway swaps the host FLOGI for an FDISC so the fabric only ever sees a virtual N_Port doing the dance, never the real host behind the curtain.
Anjali D.May 3, 2026This one showed up almost word for word on my exam and I almost second-guessed myself because option D sounds plausible if you mix up which device is doing the discovering, but once I remembered that the AG sits between the host and the fabric and does the translation work, C clicked right away. Anyone else get tripped up by D here, or was it a clean pick for your group?
Luis F.May 4, 2026Yeah D is a trap for sure, and the way I remember it is that the AG is basically a proxy so the host never has to speak native Fibre Channel, it just hands off and the AG handles the zoning side transparently.
Fatima Z.May 11, 2026Option C nails it, and here is the sticky way to lock it in: picture the AG as a TRANSLATOR at a border crossing, it takes the host's FLOGI (think "I want to LOG IN to the Fabric") and converts it to FDISC (think "I want to DISCover using an existing connection") because the AG already holds the fabric login and the host just piggybacks on it. So remember, AG equals FLOGI-to-FDISC Converter, no exceptions.
Luis F.May 12, 2026That is a solid mnemonic Fatima, just worth noting the AG also converts the host's LOGO to an appropriate fabric LOGO so the logout path stays clean too.