System & method for fabric storage utilizing multicast with distributed intelligence

The present invention is a system utilizing multicast with distributed intelligence including an initiator device for transmitting a request, the request being addressed to a multicast group. The system also includes a switch for receiving the request from the initiator device. The switch is configured with multicast functionality for multicasting copies of the request to the multicast group. Additionally, the system includes a plurality of multicast group devices, each configured for receiving a copy of the request from the initiator device, via the switch. Each device of the plurality of multicast group devices is further configured with mapping functionality for allowing the storage device to determine a storage layout of the multicast group device. The initiator device, switch and each device of the plurality of multicast group devices are communicatively coupled via a network.