An aspect includes dynamic port type detection. A link initialization frame that includes a protocol identifier is received at a port of a switch. Based on successfully decoding the protocol identifier, the port is configured to a mode of operation compatible with the protocol identifier. A table in the switch is updated to configure one or more other ports of the switch to the mode of operation compatible with the protocol identifier. A handshake response is sent to acknowledge the successful decoding of the protocol identifier. If no handshake response is received at a server prior to expiration of a wait pulse repetition time, the server periodically transmits the link initialization frame with a different protocol identifier for an alternate mode of operation until the handshake response is received or all supported modes of operation are checked.