A simplified host accesses SATA and SAS storage media devices by abstracting the SATA and SAS protocols with one full duplex protocol that supports full command queuing to each storage media device, whether SATA or SAS, where the abstraction protocol is performance-centric and supports common high-level read and write access to a pool of storage media devices, each of which may have a SATA or SAS interface. The abstraction protocol is link-agnostic and may be carried via a multiplicity of direct attach or networked interfaces, including but not limited to PCIe, Ethernet (e.g., 1 GbE, 10 GbE, 40 GbE, or 100 GbE), Infiniband, ThunderBolt, Firewire, USB, and/or custom interfaces. The abstraction protocol also supports communicating with port expanders and port multipliers.