A method and system of communicating data to or from a remote computer. The remote computer is accessed by a CPU as though it were a local IDE controller attached to a local IDE device. A peripheral device distinct from the CPU provides a set of virtual IDE device registers and an IDE controller to the central processing unit. The peripheral device receives data written to the set of virtual IDE device registers, and transmits the data into a network, addressed for reception by the remote computer. The remote computer receives the data, interprets it, and performs operations upon a mirror set of device data. The remote computer then responds, and transmits its response across the network to the peripheral device. The peripheral device communicates the response to the CPU in a fashion identical to an physical IDE controller attached to a physical IDE device.