at least one storage device;

a first appliance configured to receive requests or commands for communicating with one or more of the at least one storage devices via a first communications link, the first appliance having a first appliance address; and

a second appliance configured to:

transmit, at selected times, messages to the first appliance via a second communications link different from the first communications link;

wherein:

the first appliance is further configured to:

communicate with one or more of the at least one storage devices in response to a received request or command; and

in response to each message received from the second appliance, provide an indication to the second appliance of a status of the first appliance via the second communications link; and

the second appliance is further configured to:

monitor the status of the first appliance based, at least in part, on the indications received from the first appliance;

determine whether a proper indication is received in response to each message;

assume an emulation address comprising the first appliance address in order to receive the requests or commands addressed to the first appliance, based, at least in part, on a failure to receive a proper indication;

process the requests or commands addressed to the first appliance, after assuming the emulation address;

continue to monitor the status of the first appliance, after assuming the emulation address;

if failure to receive a proper indication from the first appliance is due to a problem relating to the first appliance, determine that the problem has been resolved; and

transmit to the first appliance via the second communications link information directing the first appliance to resume receiving requests and commands directed to the first appliance address, when the second appliance determines that the problem has been resolved; and