Automatically transmitting scheduling data from a plurality of storage systems to a network switch for scheduling access to the plurality of storage systems

A network switch for resolving requests from a plurality of host initiators by scheduling access to a plurality of storage systems, the network switch comprising:

• (a) a plurality of multi-port switches interconnected to form a switched fabric, the multi-port switches for routing requests to the plurality of storage systems and for receiving scheduling data from each of the plurality of storage systems;
• and
• (b) a memory for storing the scheduling data;
• and
• (c) a microprocessor, responsive to the scheduling data stored in the memory, for executing a scheduling algorithm to schedule the requests;
• wherein:
• the scheduling data is transferred automatically from each storage system to the memory through the multi-port switches without the microprocessor requesting the scheduling data from each storage system;
• and
• each storage system comprises a disk drive comprising a disk and a head;
• and
• the scheduling data comprises a radial location of the head relative to the disk within each disk drive;
• and
• routing requests to plurality of storage systems.