Patent ID: 8028122

Claim:
A storage system for exchanging data with a host system, the storage system including a plurality of storage devices, each of the storage devices comprising: (a) a non-volatile memory, wherein a fixed static-IP address resides in said non-volatile memory, said fixed static-IP address being common to two or more of said plurality of storage devices, and said fixed static-IP address providing enablement of a storage-device functionality of the storage device; (b) a physical interface for operationally connecting the storage device with a host system; and (c) a memory controller for; (i) controlling said non-volatile memory; (ii) determining whether a request received from the host system uses the fixed static-IP address; and (iii) fulfilling the request without activating the storage-device functionality when the request does not use the fixed static-IP address; and (iv) fulfilling the request by activating the storage-device functionality when the request uses the fixed static-IP address, and exchanging data, using a communication protocol, via said fixed static-IP address.