An adaptive switch port role configuration system includes a first switch coupled to port on a second switch by an ISL, with end devices coupled to the second switch. The second switch transmits a port reconfiguration message to the first switch via the ISL while operating as a leaf switch with the port configured as an E port and, in response to an acceptance, performs link reset operations including reconfiguring the port as an N port. The second switch then transmits a FLOGI message for the port configured as the N port to the first switch via the ISL and, in response to an acceptance, transmits a respective FDISC message via the first ISL to the first switch for each of the end devices. The second switch then receives a response for each FDISC message, and uses end device addresses included in the responses to operate as an NPIV gateway.