Which process handles incoming requests from Tableau Desktop and browsers?

The correct choice, which is the Gateway, is responsible for managing all incoming requests from Tableau Desktop and web browsers. In a Tableau Server environment, the Gateway acts as the entry point for user interactions with the server, facilitating communication between clients and various server processes. It handles tasks such as user authentication and session management, ensuring that requests are directed to the appropriate services.

Understanding the roles of the other components helps clarify why the Gateway is the right answer. The Cache Server primarily focuses on improving performance by storing query results, which speeds up response times for frequently requested data, but it does not handle incoming requests directly. The Metrics Service is concerned with collecting and tracking usage data for Tableau Server, providing insights into performance and user engagement, rather than managing requests. The Data Server manages the data connections and stores metadata about your data sources but does not handle incoming client requests either.

Thus, the Gateway is essential for orchestrating these interactions efficiently, making it the correct choice in this context.