In one embodiment a plurality of open channel solid state drives (SSDs) are implemented over a network comprised of a network switch having a plurality of nodes, a remote host connected to a first node of the network switch, a metadata server connected to a second node of the network switch, and an abstracted memory structure comprised of at least part of one of the plurality of open channel SSDs. In one embodiment, the remote host is configured to communicate with the metadata server by issuing a command identifying data related to the abstracted memory structure. In another embodiment, the metadata server is configured to communicate with the remote host by responding to the command and identifying a physical address corresponding to the identified data.