Data Storage Devices with Reduced Buffering for Storage Access Messages

A method, comprising:

• communicating, via a first interface of an apparatus, with a system outside of the apparatus;
• receiving, in a second interface of an apparatus, messages to access storage;
• identifying, among the messages received in the second interface, first messages and second messages;
• buffering the first messages in a memory of the apparatus for processing by the system connected to the first interface;
• and
• providing the second messages for processing without the second messages being buffered in the memory of the apparatus.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a memory;
• a storage device;
• and
• a logic circuit configured to:
• receive incoming messages to access storage, the incoming messages including control messages and data messages;
• buffer the control messages in the memory for processing;
• and
• provide the data messages to the storage device for processing without the data messages being buffered in the memory.