An example embodiment may involve a target device receiving a file that contains a job. The job may be associated with preferences that are not supported by the target device. In response, the target device may determine weighted ratings for candidate devices, where the weighted ratings are based on the inverse of the physical port distance along an outside of the network switch device. The physical port distance is between a respective pair of two physical ports on the network switch device in which cables are inserted to communicatively connect the target device to the respective candidate devices. The target device may transmit the file to the candidate device with the highest weighted rating.