Just a bunch of flash (jbof) appliance with physical access application program interface (api)

A method for storing data in a storage system including a plurality of hosts and storage arrays connected through a network, each storage array including a central controller, a memory, and one or more storage devices, each storage device including a local controller and a nonvolatile memory, the method comprising:

• when a write command and write data associated with the write command are received by the central controller of a first storage array from one of the hosts through the network, temporarily storing the write command and the write data into the memory of the first storage array, and transmitting the write command and the write data to one of the storage devices in the first storage array;
• determining a first physical location of the nonvolatile memory of said one of the storage devices into which the write data are written, returning the determined first physical location to the central controller of the first storage array, and writing the write data into the first physical location;
• returning the first physical location to said one of the hosts through the network;
• when a read command and a second physical location associated with the read command are received by the central controller of the first storage array from one of the hosts through the network, temporarily storing the read command and the second physical location into the memory of the first storage array, and transmitting the read command and the second physical location to one of the storage devices in which the second physical location exists;
• and
• reading data from the second physical location.