A first solid state drive (SSD) includes a first built-in network interface device configured to communicate via a network fabric, and a second SSD includes a second built-in network interface device configured to communicate via the network fabric. A connection is opened between the first SSD and the second SSD over the network fabric. Based on a non-volatile memory over fabric (NVMe-oF) communication protocol, an NVMe command to transfer data between the first SSD and the second SSD over the connection is encapsulated in a capsule. The capsule is sent from the first SSD to the second SSD over the connection via the network fabric. The second SSD executes the NVMe command in the capsule to transfer the data between the first SSD and the second SSD over the connection.