forming a first message by a computing node in a first chassis, the first message providing an instruction directed to a controller in a second chassis to manage one or more hardware functions of the second chassis, the first message complying with a first communications protocol, the controller operating in accordance with a second communications protocol that is a different protocol from the first communications protocol;

transmitting both the first message and a set of I/O requests from the first chassis to the second chassis over a communications link configured to carry messages complying with the first communications protocol, the set of I/O requests directed to one or more storage devices in the second chassis and complying with the first communications protocol; and

converting, in the second chassis, the first message complying with the first communications protocol into a second message complying with the second communications protocol, the second message including the instruction directed to the controller.