A system has a Serial ATA device and a subsystem. The subsystem includes multiple hosts, and a communications medium which interconnects the hosts to the device. The hosts are configured to share control of the device through the communications medium. First and second hosts, when transitioning control of the device, are configured to (i) send a sleep command from the first host to the device, the sleep command directing the device to transition from a normal operating mode to a sleep mode, (ii) provide a notification signal from the first host to the second host, the notification signal indicating that the first host has released control of the device to the second host, and (iii) send a wake command from the second host to the device in response to the notification signal, the wake command directing the device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.