A switching fabric role assignment system includes a plurality of switch devices coupled together in a switching fabric. A first switch device included in the plurality of switch devices receives an endhost device identification communication from an endhost device when the endhost device is connected to the first switch device. The first switch device uses the endhost device identification communication to identify an endhost device type of the endhost device and determines, based on the endhost device type, a first switch device role for the first switch device. The first switch device then transmits a first switch device role communication that identifies the first switch device role to a second switch device included in the plurality of switch devices and connected to the first switch device. The second switch device may then determine, based on the first switch device role, a second switch device role for the second switch device.