An embodiment of the present invention includes a communication system configured to conform to SATA and/or SAS standards and causing communication between one or more hosts and a SATA device. A multi-port bridge device is in communication with the one or more hosts through at least one link, the bridge device includes a power control block operative to control power to a SATA device through a power connection, wherein the power control block causes power to be provided to the SATA device even when the at least one link is operational.