A storage system includes a controller; a first storage device including a first ready/busy pin and a second storage device including a second ready/busy pin; a first data bus communicatively coupled between the controller, the first storage device, and the second storage device; and a first shared ready/busy signal channel communicatively coupled to the first ready/busy pin of the first storage device, the second ready/busy pin of the second storage device, and the controller according to a wire-sharing protocol, wherein the first storage device is configured to send the first device ID and status information associated with the first storage device to the controller via the first shared ready/busy signal channel and the second storage device is configured to send the second device ID and status information associated with the second storage device to the controller via the first shared ready/busy signal channel.