diff --git a/cmd/benchmark-utils_test.go b/cmd/benchmark-utils_test.go
index baf08e5e2..19f2eca5c 100644
--- a/cmd/benchmark-utils_test.go
+++ b/cmd/benchmark-utils_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,11 @@ func prepareBenchmarkBackend(instanceType string) (ObjectLayer, []string, error)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(disks, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/bucket-notification-handlers_test.go b/cmd/bucket-notification-handlers_test.go
index cb1abb13f..9b9d3696a 100644
--- a/cmd/bucket-notification-handlers_test.go
+++ b/cmd/bucket-notification-handlers_test.go
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func testListenBucketNotificationHandler(obj ObjectLayer, instanceType string, t
 	}
 	globalMinioAddr = fmt.Sprintf(":%d", globalMinioPort)
 	// initialize the peer client(s)
-	initGlobalS3Peers([]string{})
+	initGlobalS3Peers([]storageEndPoint{})
 
 	invalidBucket := "Invalid\\Bucket"
 	noNotificationBucket := "nonotificationbucket"
diff --git a/cmd/bucket-notification-utils.go b/cmd/bucket-notification-utils.go
index fa2e6341c..3b02f23aa 100644
--- a/cmd/bucket-notification-utils.go
+++ b/cmd/bucket-notification-utils.go
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func checkDuplicateQueueConfigs(configs []queueConfig) APIErrorCode {
 	}
 
 	// Check if there are any duplicate counts.
-	if err := checkDuplicates(queueConfigARNS); err != nil {
+	if err := checkDuplicateStrings(queueConfigARNS); err != nil {
 		errorIf(err, "Invalid queue configs found.")
 		return ErrOverlappingConfigs
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/control-mains_test.go b/cmd/control-mains_test.go
index 54c017831..346fd4a8f 100644
--- a/cmd/control-mains_test.go
+++ b/cmd/control-mains_test.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func TestControlHealMain(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Remove the object - to simulate the case where the disk was down when the object was created.
-	err = os.RemoveAll(path.Join(testServer.Disks[0], bucket, object))
+	err = os.RemoveAll(path.Join(testServer.Disks[0].path, bucket, object))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/control-router.go b/cmd/control-router.go
index 748254b8a..76b057799 100644
--- a/cmd/control-router.go
+++ b/cmd/control-router.go
@@ -20,10 +20,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/rpc"
 	"path"
-	"strings"
 
 	router "github.com/gorilla/mux"
-	"github.com/minio/minio-go/pkg/set"
 )
 
 // Routes paths for "minio control" commands.
@@ -36,32 +34,26 @@ func initRemoteControlClients(srvCmdConfig serverCmdConfig) []*AuthRPCClient {
 	if !srvCmdConfig.isDistXL {
 		return nil
 	}
-	var newExports []string
 	// Initialize auth rpc clients.
-	exports := srvCmdConfig.disks
-	remoteHosts := set.NewStringSet()
-
 	var remoteControlClnts []*AuthRPCClient
-	for _, export := range exports {
+	localMap := make(map[storageEndPoint]int)
+	for _, ep := range srvCmdConfig.endPoints {
+		// Set path to "" so that it is not used for filtering the
+		// unique entries.
+		ep.path = ""
 		// Validates if remote disk is local.
-		if isLocalStorage(export) {
+		if isLocalStorage(ep) {
 			continue
 		}
-		newExports = append(newExports, export)
-	}
-	for _, export := range newExports {
-		var host string
-		if idx := strings.LastIndex(export, ":"); idx != -1 {
-			host = export[:idx]
+		if localMap[ep] == 1 {
+			continue
 		}
-		remoteHosts.Add(fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", host, globalMinioPort))
-	}
-	for host := range remoteHosts {
+		localMap[ep]++
 		remoteControlClnts = append(remoteControlClnts, newAuthClient(&authConfig{
 			accessKey:   serverConfig.GetCredential().AccessKeyID,
 			secretKey:   serverConfig.GetCredential().SecretAccessKey,
 			secureConn:  isSSL(),
-			address:     host,
+			address:     fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", ep.host, ep.port),
 			path:        path.Join(reservedBucket, controlPath),
 			loginMethod: "Control.LoginHandler",
 		}))
diff --git a/cmd/control-router_test.go b/cmd/control-router_test.go
index 8520acdc4..c7282d69d 100644
--- a/cmd/control-router_test.go
+++ b/cmd/control-router_test.go
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ func TestInitRemoteControlClients(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			srvCmdConfig: serverCmdConfig{
 				isDistXL: true,
-				disks: []string{
-					"10.1.10.1:/mnt/disk1",
-					"10.1.10.1:/mnt/disk2",
-					"10.1.10.2:/mnt/disk3",
-					"10.1.10.2:/mnt/disk4",
+				endPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{"10.1.10.1", 9000, "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{"10.1.10.1", 9000, "/mnt/disk2"},
+					{"10.1.10.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{"10.1.10.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk2"},
 				},
 			},
 			totalClients: 2,
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ func TestInitRemoteControlClients(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			srvCmdConfig: serverCmdConfig{
 				isDistXL: true,
-				disks: []string{
-					"10.1.10.1:/mnt/disk1",
-					"10.1.10.2:/mnt/disk2",
-					"10.1.10.3:/mnt/disk3",
-					"10.1.10.4:/mnt/disk4",
+				endPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{"10.1.10.1", 9000, "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{"10.1.10.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk2"},
+					{"10.1.10.3", 9000, "/mnt/disk3"},
+					{"10.1.10.4", 9000, "/mnt/disk4"},
 				},
 			},
 			totalClients: 4,
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-readfile_test.go b/cmd/erasure-readfile_test.go
index 37a2ed83a..6bfd3d9d2 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-readfile_test.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-readfile_test.go
@@ -222,7 +222,11 @@ func TestErasureReadUtils(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	objLayer, _, err := initObjectLayer(disks, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	objLayer, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		removeRoots(disks)
 		t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/cmd/event-notifier_test.go b/cmd/event-notifier_test.go
index 7f17d7d6b..b88639171 100644
--- a/cmd/event-notifier_test.go
+++ b/cmd/event-notifier_test.go
@@ -35,12 +35,16 @@ func TestInitEventNotifierFaultyDisks(t *testing.T) {
 	// remove the root folder after the test ends.
 	defer removeAll(rootPath)
 
-	disk, err := getRandomDisks(1)
+	disks, err := getRandomDisks(1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unable to create directories for FS backend. ", err)
 	}
-	defer removeAll(disk[0])
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(disk, nil)
+	defer removeAll(disks[0])
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unable to initialize FS backend.", err)
 	}
@@ -85,12 +89,16 @@ func TestInitEventNotifierWithAMQP(t *testing.T) {
 	// remove the root folder after the test ends.
 	defer removeAll(rootPath)
 
-	disk, err := getRandomDisks(1)
-	defer removeAll(disk[0])
+	disks, err := getRandomDisks(1)
+	defer removeAll(disks[0])
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unable to create directories for FS backend. ", err)
 	}
-	fs, _, err := initObjectLayer(disk, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fs, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unable to initialize FS backend.", err)
 	}
@@ -112,12 +120,16 @@ func TestInitEventNotifierWithElasticSearch(t *testing.T) {
 	// remove the root folder after the test ends.
 	defer removeAll(rootPath)
 
-	disk, err := getRandomDisks(1)
-	defer removeAll(disk[0])
+	disks, err := getRandomDisks(1)
+	defer removeAll(disks[0])
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unable to create directories for FS backend. ", err)
 	}
-	fs, _, err := initObjectLayer(disk, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fs, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unable to initialize FS backend.", err)
 	}
@@ -139,12 +151,16 @@ func TestInitEventNotifierWithRedis(t *testing.T) {
 	// remove the root folder after the test ends.
 	defer removeAll(rootPath)
 
-	disk, err := getRandomDisks(1)
-	defer removeAll(disk[0])
+	disks, err := getRandomDisks(1)
+	defer removeAll(disks[0])
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unable to create directories for FS backend. ", err)
 	}
-	fs, _, err := initObjectLayer(disk, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fs, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unable to initialize FS backend.", err)
 	}
@@ -184,7 +200,7 @@ func (s *TestPeerRPCServerData) TearDown() {
 	s.testServer.Stop()
 	_ = removeAll(s.testServer.Root)
 	for _, d := range s.testServer.Disks {
-		_ = removeAll(d)
+		_ = removeAll(d.path)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/format-config-v1_test.go b/cmd/format-config-v1_test.go
index b1cfbf482..dd0b4183c 100644
--- a/cmd/format-config-v1_test.go
+++ b/cmd/format-config-v1_test.go
@@ -275,8 +275,12 @@ func TestFormatXLHealFreshDisks(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	// Create an instance of xl backend.
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
@@ -307,8 +311,12 @@ func TestFormatXLHealFreshDisksErrorExpected(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	// Create an instance of xl backend.
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
@@ -592,8 +600,12 @@ func TestInitFormatXLErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	defer removeRoots(fsDirs)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	// Create an instance of xl backend.
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -694,8 +706,12 @@ func TestLoadFormatXLErrs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	defer removeRoots(fsDirs)
 
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	// Create an instance of xl backend.
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -721,7 +737,11 @@ func TestLoadFormatXLErrs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	defer removeRoots(fsDirs)
 
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -745,7 +765,11 @@ func TestLoadFormatXLErrs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	defer removeRoots(fsDirs)
 
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -767,7 +791,11 @@ func TestLoadFormatXLErrs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	defer removeRoots(fsDirs)
 
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -790,8 +818,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLCorruptedDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Everything is fine, should return nil
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -807,8 +840,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLCorruptedDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Disks 0..15 are nil
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -826,8 +864,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLCorruptedDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// One disk returns Faulty Disk
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -847,8 +890,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLCorruptedDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// One disk is not found, heal corrupted disks should return nil
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -864,8 +912,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLCorruptedDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Remove format.json of all disks
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -885,8 +938,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLCorruptedDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Corrupted format json in one disk
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -910,8 +968,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLFreshDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Everything is fine, should return nil
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -926,8 +989,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLFreshDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Disks 0..15 are nil
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -945,8 +1013,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLFreshDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// One disk returns Faulty Disk
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -966,8 +1039,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLFreshDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// One disk is not found, heal corrupted disks should return nil
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -983,8 +1061,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLFreshDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Remove format.json of all disks
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1004,8 +1087,13 @@ func TestHealFormatXLFreshDisksErrs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	// Remove format.json of all disks
-	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/fs-v1-metadata_test.go b/cmd/fs-v1-metadata_test.go
index 97859068f..bc9cf726c 100644
--- a/cmd/fs-v1-metadata_test.go
+++ b/cmd/fs-v1-metadata_test.go
@@ -68,7 +68,11 @@ func TestHasExtendedHeader(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func initFSObjects(disk string, t *testing.T) (obj ObjectLayer) {
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer([]string{disk}, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints([]string{disk}, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	obj, _, err = initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unexpected err: ", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/fs-v1_test.go b/cmd/fs-v1_test.go
index 1fe73bbda..a03e7e45d 100644
--- a/cmd/fs-v1_test.go
+++ b/cmd/fs-v1_test.go
@@ -40,12 +40,22 @@ func TestNewFS(t *testing.T) {
 		disks = append(disks, xlDisk)
 	}
 
-	fsStorageDisks, err := initStorageDisks([]string{disk}, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints([]string{disk}, 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Uexpected error: ", err)
 	}
 
-	xlStorageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(disks, nil)
+	fsStorageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(endpoints, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Uexpected error: ", err)
+	}
+
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Uexpected error: ", err)
+	}
+
+	xlStorageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Uexpected error: ", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/globals.go b/cmd/globals.go
index 2e03a0680..46f0929dc 100644
--- a/cmd/globals.go
+++ b/cmd/globals.go
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ var (
 	globalMinioAddr = ""
 	// Minio default port, can be changed through command line.
 	globalMinioPort = 9000
+	// Holds the host that was passed using --address
+	globalMinioHost = ""
 	// Peer communication struct
 	globalS3Peers = s3Peers{}
 
diff --git a/cmd/lock-rpc-server.go b/cmd/lock-rpc-server.go
index fbe49c710..a1aacdedf 100644
--- a/cmd/lock-rpc-server.go
+++ b/cmd/lock-rpc-server.go
@@ -21,12 +21,10 @@ import (
 	"math/rand"
 	"net/rpc"
 	"path"
-	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	router "github.com/gorilla/mux"
-	"github.com/minio/minio-go/pkg/set"
 )
 
 const lockRPCPath = "/minio/lock"
@@ -84,31 +82,19 @@ func registerDistNSLockRouter(mux *router.Router, serverConfig serverCmdConfig)
 
 // Create one lock server for every local storage rpc server.
 func newLockServers(serverConfig serverCmdConfig) (lockServers []*lockServer) {
-	// Initialize posix storage API.
-	exports := serverConfig.disks
-	ignoredExports := serverConfig.ignoredDisks
-
-	// Save ignored disks in a map
-	// Initialize ignored disks in a new set.
-	ignoredSet := set.NewStringSet()
-	if len(ignoredExports) > 0 {
-		ignoredSet = set.CreateStringSet(ignoredExports...)
-	}
-	for _, export := range exports {
-		if ignoredSet.Contains(export) {
-			// Ignore initializing ignored export.
+	for _, ep := range serverConfig.endPoints {
+		if ep.presentIn(serverConfig.ignoredEndPoints) {
+			// Skip initializing ignored end point.
 			continue
 		}
+
 		// Not local storage move to the next node.
-		if !isLocalStorage(export) {
+		if !isLocalStorage(ep) {
 			continue
 		}
-		if idx := strings.LastIndex(export, ":"); idx != -1 {
-			export = export[idx+1:]
-		}
 		// Create handler for lock RPCs
 		locker := &lockServer{
-			rpcPath: export,
+			rpcPath: ep.path,
 			mutex:   sync.Mutex{},
 			lockMap: make(map[string][]lockRequesterInfo),
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/lock-rpc-server_test.go b/cmd/lock-rpc-server_test.go
index 0215c3500..0aab1acbd 100644
--- a/cmd/lock-rpc-server_test.go
+++ b/cmd/lock-rpc-server_test.go
@@ -452,11 +452,11 @@ func TestLockServers(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			srvCmdConfig: serverCmdConfig{
 				isDistXL: true,
-				disks: []string{
-					"localhost:/mnt/disk1",
-					"1.1.1.2:/mnt/disk2",
-					"1.1.2.1:/mnt/disk3",
-					"1.1.2.2:/mnt/disk4",
+				endPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{"localhost", 9000, "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{"1.1.1.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk2"},
+					{"1.1.2.1", 9000, "/mnt/disk3"},
+					{"1.1.2.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk4"},
 				},
 			},
 			totalLockServers: 1,
@@ -465,14 +465,14 @@ func TestLockServers(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			srvCmdConfig: serverCmdConfig{
 				isDistXL: true,
-				disks: []string{
-					"localhost:/mnt/disk1",
-					"localhost:/mnt/disk2",
-					"1.1.2.1:/mnt/disk3",
-					"1.1.2.2:/mnt/disk4",
+				endPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{"localhost", 9000, "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{"localhost", 9000, "/mnt/disk2"},
+					{"1.1.2.1", 9000, "/mnt/disk3"},
+					{"1.1.2.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk4"},
 				},
-				ignoredDisks: []string{
-					"localhost:/mnt/disk2",
+				ignoredEndPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{"localhost", 9000, "/mnt/disk2"},
 				},
 			},
 			totalLockServers: 1,
diff --git a/cmd/namespace-lock.go b/cmd/namespace-lock.go
index f2c6b2c8c..50f7e5e1d 100644
--- a/cmd/namespace-lock.go
+++ b/cmd/namespace-lock.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	pathutil "path"
 	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
-	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/minio/dsync"
@@ -32,27 +31,27 @@ var nsMutex *nsLockMap
 
 // Initialize distributed locking only in case of distributed setup.
 // Returns if the setup is distributed or not on success.
-func initDsyncNodes(disks []string, port int) error {
-	serverPort := strconv.Itoa(port)
+func initDsyncNodes(eps []storageEndPoint) error {
 	cred := serverConfig.GetCredential()
 	// Initialize rpc lock client information only if this instance is a distributed setup.
 	var clnts []dsync.RPC
 	myNode := -1
-	for _, disk := range disks {
-		if idx := strings.LastIndex(disk, ":"); idx != -1 {
-			clnts = append(clnts, newAuthClient(&authConfig{
-				accessKey: cred.AccessKeyID,
-				secretKey: cred.SecretAccessKey,
-				// Construct a new dsync server addr.
-				secureConn: isSSL(),
-				address:    disk[:idx] + ":" + serverPort,
-				// Construct a new rpc path for the disk.
-				path:        pathutil.Join(lockRPCPath, disk[idx+1:]),
-				loginMethod: "Dsync.LoginHandler",
-			}))
-			if isLocalStorage(disk) && myNode == -1 {
-				myNode = len(clnts) - 1
-			}
+	for _, ep := range eps {
+		if ep.host == "" || ep.port == 0 || ep.path == "" {
+			return errInvalidArgument
+		}
+		clnts = append(clnts, newAuthClient(&authConfig{
+			accessKey: cred.AccessKeyID,
+			secretKey: cred.SecretAccessKey,
+			// Construct a new dsync server addr.
+			secureConn: isSSL(),
+			address:    ep.host + ":" + strconv.Itoa(ep.port),
+			// Construct a new rpc path for the endpoint.
+			path:        pathutil.Join(lockRPCPath, ep.path),
+			loginMethod: "Dsync.LoginHandler",
+		}))
+		if isLocalStorage(ep) && myNode == -1 {
+			myNode = len(clnts) - 1
 		}
 	}
 	return dsync.SetNodesWithClients(clnts, myNode)
diff --git a/cmd/object-api-listobjects_test.go b/cmd/object-api-listobjects_test.go
index 51cc1439d..e186b1b66 100644
--- a/cmd/object-api-listobjects_test.go
+++ b/cmd/object-api-listobjects_test.go
@@ -565,7 +565,12 @@ func testListObjects(obj ObjectLayer, instanceType string, t TestErrHandler) {
 }
 
 func initFSObjectsB(disk string, t *testing.B) (obj ObjectLayer) {
-	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks([]string{disk}, nil)
+	endPoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints([]string{disk}, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Unexpected err: ", err)
+	}
+
+	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(endPoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unexpected err: ", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/object-common.go b/cmd/object-common.go
index c043fa697..767e9892e 100644
--- a/cmd/object-common.go
+++ b/cmd/object-common.go
@@ -64,7 +64,11 @@ func houseKeeping(storageDisks []StorageAPI) error {
 
 	// Initialize all disks in parallel.
 	for index, disk := range storageDisks {
-		if disk == nil || !isLocalStorage(disk.String()) {
+		if disk == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, ok := disk.(*networkStorage); ok {
+			// Skip remote disks.
 			continue
 		}
 		wg.Add(1)
@@ -100,59 +104,57 @@ func houseKeeping(storageDisks []StorageAPI) error {
 }
 
 // Check if a network path is local to this node.
-func isLocalStorage(networkPath string) bool {
-	if idx := strings.LastIndex(networkPath, ":"); idx != -1 {
-		// e.g 10.0.0.1:/mnt/networkPath
-		netAddr, _, err := splitNetPath(networkPath)
-		if err != nil {
-			errorIf(err, "Splitting into ip and path failed")
-			return false
-		}
-		// netAddr will only be set if this is not a local path.
-		if netAddr == "" {
+func isLocalStorage(ep storageEndPoint) bool {
+	if ep.host == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	if globalMinioHost != "" {
+		// if --address host:port was specified for distXL we short circuit only the endPoint
+		// that matches host:port
+		if globalMinioHost == ep.host && globalMinioPort == ep.port {
 			return true
 		}
-		// Resolve host to address to check if the IP is loopback.
-		// If address resolution fails, assume it's a non-local host.
-		addrs, err := net.LookupHost(netAddr)
-		if err != nil {
-			errorIf(err, "Failed to lookup host")
-			return false
+		return false
+	}
+	// Resolve host to address to check if the IP is loopback.
+	// If address resolution fails, assume it's a non-local host.
+	addrs, err := net.LookupHost(ep.host)
+	if err != nil {
+		errorIf(err, "Failed to lookup host")
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, addr := range addrs {
+		if ip := net.ParseIP(addr); ip.IsLoopback() {
+			return true
 		}
-		for _, addr := range addrs {
-			if ip := net.ParseIP(addr); ip.IsLoopback() {
+	}
+	iaddrs, err := net.InterfaceAddrs()
+	if err != nil {
+		errorIf(err, "Unable to list interface addresses")
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, addr := range addrs {
+		for _, iaddr := range iaddrs {
+			ip, _, err := net.ParseCIDR(iaddr.String())
+			if err != nil {
+				errorIf(err, "Unable to parse CIDR")
+				return false
+			}
+			if ip.String() == addr {
 				return true
 			}
-		}
-		iaddrs, err := net.InterfaceAddrs()
-		if err != nil {
-			errorIf(err, "Unable to list interface addresses")
-			return false
-		}
-		for _, addr := range addrs {
-			for _, iaddr := range iaddrs {
-				ip, _, err := net.ParseCIDR(iaddr.String())
-				if err != nil {
-					errorIf(err, "Unable to parse CIDR")
-					return false
-				}
-				if ip.String() == addr {
-					return true
-				}
 
-			}
 		}
-		return false
 	}
-	return true
+	return false
 }
 
 // Depending on the disk type network or local, initialize storage API.
-func newStorageAPI(disk string) (storage StorageAPI, err error) {
-	if isLocalStorage(disk) {
-		return newPosix(disk)
+func newStorageAPI(ep storageEndPoint) (storage StorageAPI, err error) {
+	if isLocalStorage(ep) {
+		return newPosix(ep.path)
 	}
-	return newRPCClient(disk)
+	return newRPCClient(ep)
 }
 
 // Initializes meta volume on all input storage disks.
diff --git a/cmd/prepare-storage.go b/cmd/prepare-storage.go
index 5832908e2..134ac31d6 100644
--- a/cmd/prepare-storage.go
+++ b/cmd/prepare-storage.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/minio/mc/pkg/console"
-	"github.com/minio/minio-go/pkg/set"
 )
 
 // Channel where minioctl heal handler would notify if it were successful. This
@@ -250,34 +249,35 @@ func retryFormattingDisks(firstDisk bool, firstEndpoint string, storageDisks []S
 }
 
 // Initialize storage disks based on input arguments.
-func initStorageDisks(disks, ignoredDisks []string) ([]StorageAPI, error) {
+func initStorageDisks(endPoints, ignoredEndPoints []storageEndPoint) ([]StorageAPI, error) {
 	// Single disk means we will use FS backend.
-	if len(disks) == 1 {
-		storage, err := newStorageAPI(disks[0])
+	if len(endPoints) == 1 {
+		storage, err := newStorageAPI(endPoints[0])
 		if err != nil && err != errDiskNotFound {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		return []StorageAPI{storage}, nil
-	} // Otherwise proceed with XL setup.
-	if err := checkSufficientDisks(disks); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	disksSet := set.NewStringSet()
-	if len(ignoredDisks) > 0 {
-		disksSet = set.CreateStringSet(ignoredDisks...)
 	}
+	// Otherwise proceed with XL setup.
 	// Bootstrap disks.
-	storageDisks := make([]StorageAPI, len(disks))
-	for index, disk := range disks {
+	storageDisks := make([]StorageAPI, len(endPoints))
+	for index, ep := range endPoints {
 		// Check if disk is ignored.
-		if disksSet.Contains(disk) {
+		ignored := false
+		for _, iep := range ignoredEndPoints {
+			if ep == iep {
+				ignored = true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if ignored {
 			// Set this situation as disk not found.
 			storageDisks[index] = nil
 			continue
 		}
 		// Intentionally ignore disk not found errors. XL is designed
 		// to handle these errors internally.
-		storage, err := newStorageAPI(disk)
+		storage, err := newStorageAPI(ep)
 		if err != nil && err != errDiskNotFound {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/s3-peer-client.go b/cmd/s3-peer-client.go
index 51238c747..f950fc240 100644
--- a/cmd/s3-peer-client.go
+++ b/cmd/s3-peer-client.go
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ import (
 	"path"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
-
-	"github.com/minio/minio-go/pkg/set"
 )
 
 type s3Peers struct {
@@ -38,9 +36,9 @@ type s3Peers struct {
 	peers []string
 }
 
-func initGlobalS3Peers(disks []string) {
+func initGlobalS3Peers(eps []storageEndPoint) {
 	// Get list of de-duplicated peers.
-	peers := getAllPeers(disks)
+	peers := getAllPeers(eps)
 
 	// Initialize global state.
 	globalS3Peers = s3Peers{
@@ -112,23 +110,10 @@ func (s3p *s3Peers) Close() error {
 
 // returns the network addresses of all Minio servers in the cluster
 // in `host:port` format.
-func getAllPeers(disks []string) []string {
+func getAllPeers(eps []storageEndPoint) []string {
 	res := []string{}
-	// use set to de-duplicate
-	sset := set.NewStringSet()
-	for _, disk := range disks {
-		netAddr, _, err := splitNetPath(disk)
-		if err != nil || netAddr == "" {
-			errorIf(err, "Unexpected error - most likely a bug.")
-			continue
-		}
-		if !sset.Contains(netAddr) {
-			res = append(
-				res,
-				fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", netAddr, globalMinioPort),
-			)
-			sset.Add(netAddr)
-		}
+	for _, ep := range eps {
+		res = append(res, fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", ep.host, ep.port))
 	}
 	return res
 }
diff --git a/cmd/server-main.go b/cmd/server-main.go
index f37fa22bf..b161e9cd0 100644
--- a/cmd/server-main.go
+++ b/cmd/server-main.go
@@ -17,14 +17,18 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
+	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"regexp"
+
 	"github.com/minio/cli"
 )
 
@@ -96,11 +100,118 @@ EXAMPLES:
 }
 
 type serverCmdConfig struct {
-	serverAddr   string
-	disks        []string
-	ignoredDisks []string
-	isDistXL     bool // True only if its distributed XL.
-	storageDisks []StorageAPI
+	serverAddr       string
+	endPoints        []storageEndPoint
+	ignoredEndPoints []storageEndPoint
+	isDistXL         bool // True only if its distributed XL.
+	storageDisks     []StorageAPI
+}
+
+// End point is specified in the command line as host:port:path or host:path or path
+// host:port:path or host:path - for distributed XL. Default port is 9000.
+// just path - for single node XL or FS.
+type storageEndPoint struct {
+	host string // Will be empty for single node XL and FS
+	port int    // Will be valid for distributed XL
+	path string // Will be valid for all configs
+}
+
+// Returns string form.
+func (ep storageEndPoint) String() string {
+	var str []string
+	if ep.host != "" {
+		str = append(str, ep.host)
+	}
+	if ep.port != 0 {
+		str = append(str, strconv.Itoa(ep.port))
+	}
+	if ep.path != "" {
+		str = append(str, ep.path)
+	}
+	return strings.Join(str, ":")
+}
+
+// Returns if ep is present in the eps list.
+func (ep storageEndPoint) presentIn(eps []storageEndPoint) bool {
+	for _, entry := range eps {
+		if entry == ep {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// Parse end-point (of the form host:port:path or host:path or path)
+func parseStorageEndPoint(ep string, defaultPort int) (storageEndPoint, error) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		// Try to match path, ex. C:\export
+		matched, err := regexp.MatchString(`^[a-zA-Z]:\\[^:]+$`, ep)
+		if err != nil {
+			return storageEndPoint{}, err
+		}
+		if matched {
+			return storageEndPoint{path: ep}, nil
+		}
+
+		// Try to match host:path ex. 127.0.0.1:C:\export
+		re, err := regexp.Compile(`^([^:]+):([a-zA-Z]:\\[^:]+)$`)
+		if err != nil {
+			return storageEndPoint{}, err
+		}
+		result := re.FindStringSubmatch(ep)
+		if len(result) != 0 {
+			return storageEndPoint{host: result[1], port: defaultPort, path: result[2]}, nil
+		}
+
+		// Try to match host:port:path ex. 127.0.0.1:443:C:\export
+		re, err = regexp.Compile(`^([^:]+):([0-9]+):([a-zA-Z]:\\[^:]+)$`)
+		if err != nil {
+			return storageEndPoint{}, err
+		}
+		result = re.FindStringSubmatch(ep)
+		if len(result) != 0 {
+			portInt, err := strconv.Atoi(result[2])
+			if err != nil {
+				return storageEndPoint{}, err
+			}
+			return storageEndPoint{host: result[1], port: portInt, path: result[3]}, nil
+		}
+		return storageEndPoint{}, errors.New("Unable to parse endpoint " + ep)
+	}
+	// For *nix OSes
+	parts := strings.Split(ep, ":")
+	var parsedep storageEndPoint
+	switch len(parts) {
+	case 1:
+		parsedep = storageEndPoint{path: parts[0]}
+	case 2:
+		parsedep = storageEndPoint{host: parts[0], port: defaultPort, path: parts[1]}
+	case 3:
+		port, err := strconv.Atoi(parts[1])
+		if err != nil {
+			return storageEndPoint{}, err
+		}
+		parsedep = storageEndPoint{host: parts[0], port: port, path: parts[2]}
+	default:
+		return storageEndPoint{}, errors.New("Unable to parse " + ep)
+	}
+	return parsedep, nil
+}
+
+// Parse an array of end-points (passed on the command line)
+func parseStorageEndPoints(eps []string, defaultPort int) (endpoints []storageEndPoint, err error) {
+	for _, ep := range eps {
+		if ep == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		var endpoint storageEndPoint
+		endpoint, err = parseStorageEndPoint(ep, defaultPort)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		endpoints = append(endpoints, endpoint)
+	}
+	return endpoints, nil
 }
 
 // getListenIPs - gets all the ips to listen on.
@@ -194,13 +305,13 @@ func initServerConfig(c *cli.Context) {
 }
 
 // Validate if input disks are sufficient for initializing XL.
-func checkSufficientDisks(disks []string) error {
+func checkSufficientDisks(eps []storageEndPoint) error {
 	// Verify total number of disks.
-	totalDisks := len(disks)
-	if totalDisks > maxErasureBlocks {
+	total := len(eps)
+	if total > maxErasureBlocks {
 		return errXLMaxDisks
 	}
-	if totalDisks < minErasureBlocks {
+	if total < minErasureBlocks {
 		return errXLMinDisks
 	}
 
@@ -211,7 +322,7 @@ func checkSufficientDisks(disks []string) error {
 
 	// Verify if we have even number of disks.
 	// only combination of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 are supported.
-	if !isEven(totalDisks) {
+	if !isEven(total) {
 		return errXLNumDisks
 	}
 
@@ -219,36 +330,19 @@ func checkSufficientDisks(disks []string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Validates if disks are of supported format, invalid arguments are rejected.
-func checkNamingDisks(disks []string) error {
-	for _, disk := range disks {
-		_, _, err := splitNetPath(disk)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 // Validate input disks.
-func validateDisks(disks []string, ignoredDisks []string) []StorageAPI {
-	isXL := len(disks) > 1
+func validateDisks(endPoints []storageEndPoint, ignoredEndPoints []storageEndPoint) []StorageAPI {
+	isXL := len(endPoints) > 1
 	if isXL {
 		// Validate if input disks have duplicates in them.
-		err := checkDuplicates(disks)
+		err := checkDuplicateEndPoints(endPoints)
 		fatalIf(err, "Invalid disk arguments for server.")
 
 		// Validate if input disks are sufficient for erasure coded setup.
-		err = checkSufficientDisks(disks)
-		fatalIf(err, "Invalid disk arguments for server.")
-
-		// Validate if input disks are properly named in accordance with either
-		//  - /mnt/disk1
-		//  - ip:/mnt/disk1
-		err = checkNamingDisks(disks)
+		err = checkSufficientDisks(endPoints)
 		fatalIf(err, "Invalid disk arguments for server.")
 	}
-	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(disks, ignoredDisks)
+	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(endPoints, ignoredEndPoints)
 	fatalIf(err, "Unable to initialize storage disks.")
 	return storageDisks
 }
@@ -273,10 +367,10 @@ func getPort(address string) int {
 }
 
 // Returns if slice of disks is a distributed setup.
-func isDistributedSetup(disks []string) (isDist bool) {
+func isDistributedSetup(eps []storageEndPoint) (isDist bool) {
 	// Port to connect to for the lock servers in a distributed setup.
-	for _, disk := range disks {
-		if !isLocalStorage(disk) {
+	for _, ep := range eps {
+		if !isLocalStorage(ep) {
 			// One or more disks supplied as arguments are not
 			// attached to the local node.
 			isDist = true
@@ -295,17 +389,25 @@ func serverMain(c *cli.Context) {
 	serverAddr := c.String("address")
 
 	// Check if requested port is available.
-	port := getPort(serverAddr)
-	fatalIf(checkPortAvailability(port), "Port unavailable %d", port)
+	host, portStr, err := net.SplitHostPort(serverAddr)
+	fatalIf(err, "Unable to parse %s.", serverAddr)
+
+	portInt, err := strconv.Atoi(portStr)
+	fatalIf(err, "Invalid port number.")
+
+	fatalIf(checkPortAvailability(portInt), "Port unavailable %d", portInt)
 
-	// Saves port in a globally accessible value.
-	globalMinioPort = port
+	// Saves host and port in a globally accessible value.
+	globalMinioPort = portInt
+	globalMinioHost = host
 
 	// Disks to be ignored in server init, to skip format healing.
-	ignoredDisks := strings.Split(c.String("ignore-disks"), ",")
+	ignoredDisks, err := parseStorageEndPoints(strings.Split(c.String("ignore-disks"), ","), portInt)
+	fatalIf(err, "Unable to parse storage endpoints %s", strings.Split(c.String("ignore-disks"), ","))
 
 	// Disks to be used in server init.
-	disks := c.Args()
+	disks, err := parseStorageEndPoints(c.Args(), portInt)
+	fatalIf(err, "Unable to parse storage endpoints %s", c.Args())
 
 	// Initialize server config.
 	initServerConfig(c)
@@ -324,11 +426,11 @@ func serverMain(c *cli.Context) {
 
 	// Configure server.
 	srvConfig := serverCmdConfig{
-		serverAddr:   serverAddr,
-		disks:        disks,
-		ignoredDisks: ignoredDisks,
-		storageDisks: storageDisks,
-		isDistXL:     isDistributedSetup(disks),
+		serverAddr:       serverAddr,
+		endPoints:        disks,
+		ignoredEndPoints: ignoredDisks,
+		storageDisks:     storageDisks,
+		isDistXL:         isDistributedSetup(disks),
 	}
 
 	// Configure server.
@@ -337,7 +439,7 @@ func serverMain(c *cli.Context) {
 
 	// Set nodes for dsync for distributed setup.
 	if srvConfig.isDistXL {
-		fatalIf(initDsyncNodes(disks, port), "Unable to initialize distributed locking")
+		fatalIf(initDsyncNodes(disks), "Unable to initialize distributed locking")
 	}
 
 	// Initialize name space lock.
diff --git a/cmd/server-main_test.go b/cmd/server-main_test.go
index 360646308..f212482b0 100644
--- a/cmd/server-main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server-main_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"flag"
-	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -64,23 +63,47 @@ func TestFinalizeEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests all the expected input disks for function checkSufficientDisks.
 func TestCheckSufficientDisks(t *testing.T) {
-	xlDisks := []string{
-		"/mnt/backend1",
-		"/mnt/backend2",
-		"/mnt/backend3",
-		"/mnt/backend4",
-		"/mnt/backend5",
-		"/mnt/backend6",
-		"/mnt/backend7",
-		"/mnt/backend8",
-		"/mnt/backend9",
-		"/mnt/backend10",
-		"/mnt/backend11",
-		"/mnt/backend12",
-		"/mnt/backend13",
-		"/mnt/backend14",
-		"/mnt/backend15",
-		"/mnt/backend16",
+	var xlDisks []string
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		xlDisks = []string{
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend1",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend2",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend3",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend4",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend5",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend6",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend7",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend8",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend9",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend10",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend11",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend12",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend13",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend14",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend15",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend16",
+			"C:\\mnt\\backend17",
+		}
+	} else {
+		xlDisks = []string{
+			"/mnt/backend1",
+			"/mnt/backend2",
+			"/mnt/backend3",
+			"/mnt/backend4",
+			"/mnt/backend5",
+			"/mnt/backend6",
+			"/mnt/backend7",
+			"/mnt/backend8",
+			"/mnt/backend9",
+			"/mnt/backend10",
+			"/mnt/backend11",
+			"/mnt/backend12",
+			"/mnt/backend13",
+			"/mnt/backend14",
+			"/mnt/backend15",
+			"/mnt/backend16",
+			"/mnt/backend17",
+		}
 	}
 	// List of test cases fo sufficient disk verification.
 	testCases := []struct {
@@ -104,7 +127,7 @@ func TestCheckSufficientDisks(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		// Larger than maximum number of disks > 16.
 		{
-			append(xlDisks[0:16], "/mnt/unsupported"),
+			xlDisks,
 			errXLMaxDisks,
 		},
 		// Lesser than minimum number of disks < 6.
@@ -121,43 +144,12 @@ func TestCheckSufficientDisks(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Validates different variations of input disks.
 	for i, testCase := range testCases {
-		if checkSufficientDisks(testCase.disks) != testCase.expectedErr {
-			t.Errorf("Test %d expected to pass for disks %s", i+1, testCase.disks)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func TestCheckNamingDisks(t *testing.T) {
-	var testCases []struct {
-		disks []string
-		err   error
-	}
-	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
-		testCases = []struct {
-			disks []string
-			err   error
-		}{
-			{[]string{`:C:\\a\\b\\c`}, &net.AddrError{Err: "Missing address in network path", Addr: `:C:\\a\\b\\c`}},
-			{[]string{`localhost:C:\\mnt\\disk1`, `localhost:C:\\mnt\\disk2`}, nil},
-		}
-	} else {
-		testCases = []struct {
-			disks []string
-			err   error
-		}{
-			{[]string{"localhost:/mnt/disk1", ":/a/b/c"}, &net.AddrError{Err: "Missing address in network path", Addr: ":/a/b/c"}},
-			{[]string{"localhost:/mnt/disk1", "localhost:/mnt/disk2"}, nil},
+		endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(testCase.disks, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
 		}
-	}
-
-	for i, test := range testCases {
-		err := checkNamingDisks(test.disks)
-		if test.err != nil {
-			if err == nil || err.Error() != test.err.Error() {
-				t.Errorf("Test %d failed with %v but expected error %v", i+1, err, test.err)
-			}
-		} else if err != test.err {
-			t.Errorf("Test %d failed with %v but expected error %v", i+1, err, test.err)
+		if checkSufficientDisks(endpoints) != testCase.expectedErr {
+			t.Errorf("Test %d expected to pass for disks %s", i+1, testCase.disks)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -186,7 +178,11 @@ func TestCheckServerSyntax(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("Test %d failed to parse arguments %s", i+1, disks)
 		}
 		defer removeRoots(disks)
-		_ = validateDisks(disks, nil)
+		endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+		}
+		_ = validateDisks(endpoints, nil)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -268,7 +264,11 @@ func TestIsDistributedSetup(t *testing.T) {
 
 	}
 	for i, test := range testCases {
-		res := isDistributedSetup(test.disks)
+		endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(test.disks, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+		}
+		res := isDistributedSetup(endpoints)
 		if res != test.result {
 			t.Errorf("Test %d: expected result %t but received %t", i+1, test.result, res)
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/storage-rpc-client.go b/cmd/storage-rpc-client.go
index bfaccaad9..eddbbbaa4 100644
--- a/cmd/storage-rpc-client.go
+++ b/cmd/storage-rpc-client.go
@@ -17,12 +17,11 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
 	"net/rpc"
 	"path"
-	"strconv"
-	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/minio/minio/pkg/disk"
 )
@@ -94,21 +93,16 @@ func toStorageErr(err error) error {
 }
 
 // Initialize new rpc client.
-func newRPCClient(networkPath string) (StorageAPI, error) {
+func newRPCClient(ep storageEndPoint) (StorageAPI, error) {
 	// Input validation.
-	if networkPath == "" || strings.LastIndex(networkPath, ":") == -1 {
+	if ep.host == "" || ep.port == 0 || ep.path == "" {
 		return nil, errInvalidArgument
 	}
 
-	// Split network path into its components.
-	netAddr, netPath, err := splitNetPath(networkPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	// Dial minio rpc storage http path.
-	rpcPath := path.Join(storageRPCPath, netPath)
-	rpcAddr := netAddr + ":" + strconv.Itoa(globalMinioPort)
+	rpcPath := path.Join(storageRPCPath, ep.path)
+	rpcAddr := fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", ep.host, ep.port)
+
 	// Initialize rpc client with network address and rpc path.
 	cred := serverConfig.GetCredential()
 	rpcClient := newAuthClient(&authConfig{
@@ -122,8 +116,8 @@ func newRPCClient(networkPath string) (StorageAPI, error) {
 
 	// Initialize network storage.
 	ndisk := &networkStorage{
-		netAddr:   netAddr,
-		netPath:   netPath,
+		netAddr:   ep.host,
+		netPath:   ep.path,
 		rpcClient: rpcClient,
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/storage-rpc-client_test.go b/cmd/storage-rpc-client_test.go
index 6126968f5..9da47f41c 100644
--- a/cmd/storage-rpc-client_test.go
+++ b/cmd/storage-rpc-client_test.go
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"net/rpc"
 	"runtime"
-	"strconv"
-	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -144,14 +142,14 @@ type TestRPCStorageSuite struct {
 // Starting the Test server with temporary FS backend.
 func (s *TestRPCStorageSuite) SetUpSuite(c *testing.T) {
 	s.testServer = StartTestStorageRPCServer(c, s.serverType, 1)
-	splitAddrs := strings.Split(s.testServer.Server.Listener.Addr().String(), ":")
-	var err error
-	globalMinioPort, err = strconv.Atoi(splitAddrs[1])
-	if err != nil {
-		c.Fatalf("Unable to convert %s to its integer representation, %s", splitAddrs[1], err)
-	}
+	listenAddress := s.testServer.Server.Listener.Addr().String()
+
 	for _, disk := range s.testServer.Disks {
-		storageDisk, err := newRPCClient(splitAddrs[0] + ":" + disk)
+		remoteEndPoint, err := parseStorageEndPoint(listenAddress+":"+disk.path, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			c.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+		}
+		storageDisk, err := newRPCClient(remoteEndPoint)
 		if err != nil {
 			c.Fatal("Unable to initialize RPC client", err)
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/storage-rpc-server.go b/cmd/storage-rpc-server.go
index 8098749ea..0e00840b0 100644
--- a/cmd/storage-rpc-server.go
+++ b/cmd/storage-rpc-server.go
@@ -21,11 +21,9 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/rpc"
 	"path"
-	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	router "github.com/gorilla/mux"
-	"github.com/minio/minio-go/pkg/set"
 	"github.com/minio/minio/pkg/disk"
 )
 
@@ -220,36 +218,20 @@ func (s *storageServer) TryInitHandler(args *GenericArgs, reply *GenericReply) e
 
 // Initialize new storage rpc.
 func newRPCServer(serverConfig serverCmdConfig) (servers []*storageServer, err error) {
-	// Initialize posix storage API.
-	exports := serverConfig.disks
-	ignoredExports := serverConfig.ignoredDisks
-
-	// Initialize ignored disks in a new set.
-	ignoredSet := set.NewStringSet()
-	if len(ignoredExports) > 0 {
-		ignoredSet = set.CreateStringSet(ignoredExports...)
-	}
-	for _, export := range exports {
-		if ignoredSet.Contains(export) {
-			// Ignore initializing ignored export.
+	for _, ep := range serverConfig.endPoints {
+		if ep.presentIn(serverConfig.ignoredEndPoints) {
+			// Do not init ignored end point.
 			continue
 		}
 		// e.g server:/mnt/disk1
-		if isLocalStorage(export) {
-			if idx := strings.LastIndex(export, ":"); idx != -1 {
-				export = export[idx+1:]
-			}
-			var storage StorageAPI
-			storage, err = newPosix(export)
+		if isLocalStorage(ep) {
+			storage, err := newPosix(ep.path)
 			if err != nil && err != errDiskNotFound {
 				return nil, err
 			}
-			if idx := strings.LastIndex(export, ":"); idx != -1 {
-				export = export[idx+1:]
-			}
 			servers = append(servers, &storageServer{
 				storage: storage,
-				path:    export,
+				path:    ep.path,
 			})
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/test-utils_test.go b/cmd/test-utils_test.go
index b5fad4a5c..a04cc0f74 100644
--- a/cmd/test-utils_test.go
+++ b/cmd/test-utils_test.go
@@ -61,7 +61,11 @@ func prepareFS() (ObjectLayer, string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, "", err
 	}
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		removeRoots(fsDirs)
 		return nil, "", err
@@ -75,7 +79,11 @@ func prepareXL() (ObjectLayer, []string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
-	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		removeRoots(fsDirs)
 		return nil, nil, err
@@ -145,7 +153,7 @@ func isSameType(obj1, obj2 interface{}) bool {
 //   defer s.Stop()
 type TestServer struct {
 	Root      string
-	Disks     []string
+	Disks     []storageEndPoint
 	AccessKey string
 	SecretKey string
 	Server    *httptest.Server
@@ -174,17 +182,20 @@ func StartTestServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string) TestServer {
 	credentials := serverConfig.GetCredential()
 
 	testServer.Root = root
-	testServer.Disks = disks
+	testServer.Disks, err = parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
 	testServer.AccessKey = credentials.AccessKeyID
 	testServer.SecretKey = credentials.SecretAccessKey
 
-	objLayer, storageDisks, err := initObjectLayer(disks, nil)
+	objLayer, storageDisks, err := initObjectLayer(testServer.Disks, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed obtaining Temp Backend: <ERROR> %s", err)
 	}
 
 	srvCmdCfg := serverCmdConfig{
-		disks:        disks,
+		endPoints:    testServer.Disks,
 		storageDisks: storageDisks,
 	}
 	httpHandler, err := configureServerHandler(
@@ -214,7 +225,11 @@ func StartTestServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string) TestServer {
 		t.Fatal("Early setup error:", err)
 	}
 	globalMinioAddr = getLocalAddress(srvCmdCfg)
-	initGlobalS3Peers(disks)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Early setup error:", err)
+	}
+	initGlobalS3Peers(endpoints)
 
 	return testServer
 }
@@ -236,6 +251,10 @@ func StartTestStorageRPCServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string, diskN int)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Failed to create disks for the backend")
 	}
+	endPoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("%s", err)
+	}
 
 	root, err := newTestConfig("us-east-1")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -248,13 +267,13 @@ func StartTestStorageRPCServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string, diskN int)
 	credentials := serverConfig.GetCredential()
 
 	testRPCServer.Root = root
-	testRPCServer.Disks = disks
+	testRPCServer.Disks = endPoints
 	testRPCServer.AccessKey = credentials.AccessKeyID
 	testRPCServer.SecretKey = credentials.SecretAccessKey
 
 	// Run TestServer.
 	testRPCServer.Server = httptest.NewServer(initTestStorageRPCEndPoint(serverCmdConfig{
-		disks: disks,
+		endPoints: endPoints,
 	}))
 	return testRPCServer
 }
@@ -267,6 +286,10 @@ func StartTestPeersRPCServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string) TestServer {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Failed to create disks for the backend")
 	}
+	endPoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("%s", err)
+	}
 
 	root, err := newTestConfig("us-east-1")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -279,12 +302,12 @@ func StartTestPeersRPCServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string) TestServer {
 	credentials := serverConfig.GetCredential()
 
 	testRPCServer.Root = root
-	testRPCServer.Disks = disks
+	testRPCServer.Disks = endPoints
 	testRPCServer.AccessKey = credentials.AccessKeyID
 	testRPCServer.SecretKey = credentials.SecretAccessKey
 
 	// create temporary backend for the test server.
-	objLayer, storageDisks, err := initObjectLayer(disks, nil)
+	objLayer, storageDisks, err := initObjectLayer(endPoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed obtaining Temp Backend: <ERROR> %s", err)
 	}
@@ -295,7 +318,7 @@ func StartTestPeersRPCServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string) TestServer {
 	globalObjLayerMutex.Unlock()
 
 	srvCfg := serverCmdConfig{
-		disks:        disks,
+		endPoints:    endPoints,
 		storageDisks: storageDisks,
 	}
 
@@ -335,6 +358,10 @@ func StartTestControlRPCServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string) TestServer
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Failed to create disks for the backend")
 	}
+	endPoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(disks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("%s", err)
+	}
 
 	root, err := newTestConfig("us-east-1")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -347,12 +374,12 @@ func StartTestControlRPCServer(t TestErrHandler, instanceType string) TestServer
 	credentials := serverConfig.GetCredential()
 
 	testRPCServer.Root = root
-	testRPCServer.Disks = disks
+	testRPCServer.Disks = endPoints
 	testRPCServer.AccessKey = credentials.AccessKeyID
 	testRPCServer.SecretKey = credentials.SecretAccessKey
 
 	// create temporary backend for the test server.
-	objLayer, storageDisks, err := initObjectLayer(disks, nil)
+	objLayer, storageDisks, err := initObjectLayer(endPoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed obtaining Temp Backend: <ERROR> %s", err)
 	}
@@ -401,7 +428,7 @@ func newTestConfig(bucketLocation string) (rootPath string, err error) {
 func (testServer TestServer) Stop() {
 	removeAll(testServer.Root)
 	for _, disk := range testServer.Disks {
-		removeAll(disk)
+		removeAll(disk.path)
 	}
 	testServer.Server.Close()
 }
@@ -1454,8 +1481,8 @@ func getRandomDisks(N int) ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 // initObjectLayer - Instantiates object layer and returns it.
-func initObjectLayer(disks []string, ignoredDisks []string) (ObjectLayer, []StorageAPI, error) {
-	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(disks, ignoredDisks)
+func initObjectLayer(endPoints []storageEndPoint, ignoredEndPoints []storageEndPoint) (ObjectLayer, []StorageAPI, error) {
+	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(endPoints, ignoredEndPoints)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
@@ -1531,7 +1558,12 @@ func prepareXLStorageDisks(t *testing.T) ([]StorageAPI, []string) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unexpected error: ", err)
 	}
-	_, storageDisks, err := initObjectLayer(fsDirs, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("Unexpected error: ", err)
+	}
+
+	_, storageDisks, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		removeRoots(fsDirs)
 		t.Fatal("Unable to initialize storage disks", err)
@@ -1815,7 +1847,11 @@ func ExecObjectLayerStaleFilesTest(t *testing.T, objTest objTestStaleFilesType)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Initialization of disks for XL setup: %s", err)
 	}
-	objLayer, _, err := initObjectLayer(erasureDisks, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(erasureDisks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Initialization of disks for XL setup: %s", err)
+	}
+	objLayer, _, err := initObjectLayer(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Initialization of object layer failed for XL setup: %s", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/tree-walk_test.go b/cmd/tree-walk_test.go
index fcb76e29f..7426512c5 100644
--- a/cmd/tree-walk_test.go
+++ b/cmd/tree-walk_test.go
@@ -163,11 +163,15 @@ func testTreeWalkMarker(t *testing.T, listDir listDirFunc, isLeaf isLeafFunc) {
 func TestTreeWalk(t *testing.T) {
 	fsDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "minio-")
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
 	}
-	disk, err := newStorageAPI(fsDir)
+	endpoint, err := parseStorageEndPoint(fsDir, 0)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
+	disk, err := newStorageAPI(endpoint)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	var files = []string{
@@ -200,11 +204,15 @@ func TestTreeWalk(t *testing.T) {
 func TestTreeWalkTimeout(t *testing.T) {
 	fsDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "minio-")
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
 	}
-	disk, err := newStorageAPI(fsDir)
+	endpoint, err := parseStorageEndPoint(fsDir, 0)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
+	disk, err := newStorageAPI(endpoint)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
 	}
 	var myfiles []string
 	// Create maxObjectsList+1 number of entries.
@@ -278,12 +286,23 @@ func TestListDir(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	endpoint1, err := parseStorageEndPoint(fsDir1, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
+
 	// Create two StorageAPIs disk1 and disk2.
-	disk1, err := newStorageAPI(fsDir1)
+	disk1, err := newStorageAPI(endpoint1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
 	}
-	disk2, err := newStorageAPI(fsDir2)
+
+	endpoint2, err := parseStorageEndPoint(fsDir2, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
+
+	disk2, err := newStorageAPI(endpoint2)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -348,13 +367,18 @@ func TestRecursiveTreeWalk(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a backend directories fsDir1.
 	fsDir1, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "minio-")
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	endpoint1, err := parseStorageEndPoint(fsDir1, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
 	}
 
 	// Create two StorageAPIs disk1.
-	disk1, err := newStorageAPI(fsDir1)
+	disk1, err := newStorageAPI(endpoint1)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	// Simple isLeaf check, returns true if there is no trailing "/"
@@ -458,8 +482,13 @@ func TestSortedness(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	endpoint1, err := parseStorageEndPoint(fsDir1, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
+
 	// Create two StorageAPIs disk1.
-	disk1, err := newStorageAPI(fsDir1)
+	disk1, err := newStorageAPI(endpoint1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -533,8 +562,13 @@ func TestTreeWalkIsEnd(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Unable to create tmp directory: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	endpoint1, err := parseStorageEndPoint(fsDir1, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
+
 	// Create two StorageAPIs disk1.
-	disk1, err := newStorageAPI(fsDir1)
+	disk1, err := newStorageAPI(endpoint1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("Unable to create StorageAPI: %s", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/utils.go b/cmd/utils.go
index 087658be9..e85361a3f 100644
--- a/cmd/utils.go
+++ b/cmd/utils.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func cloneHeader(h http.Header) http.Header {
 }
 
 // checkDuplicates - function to validate if there are duplicates in a slice of strings.
-func checkDuplicates(list []string) error {
+func checkDuplicateStrings(list []string) error {
 	// Empty lists are not allowed.
 	if len(list) == 0 {
 		return errInvalidArgument
@@ -72,6 +72,15 @@ func checkDuplicates(list []string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// checkDuplicates - function to validate if there are duplicates in a slice of endPoints.
+func checkDuplicateEndPoints(list []storageEndPoint) error {
+	var strs []string
+	for _, ep := range list {
+		strs = append(strs, ep.String())
+	}
+	return checkDuplicateStrings(strs)
+}
+
 // splits network path into its components Address and Path.
 func splitNetPath(networkPath string) (netAddr, netPath string, err error) {
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
@@ -99,14 +108,10 @@ func getLocalAddress(srvCmdConfig serverCmdConfig) string {
 	if !srvCmdConfig.isDistXL {
 		return srvCmdConfig.serverAddr
 	}
-	for _, export := range srvCmdConfig.disks {
+	for _, ep := range srvCmdConfig.endPoints {
 		// Validates if remote disk is local.
-		if isLocalStorage(export) {
-			var host string
-			if idx := strings.LastIndex(export, ":"); idx != -1 {
-				host = export[:idx]
-			}
-			return fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", host, globalMinioPort)
+		if isLocalStorage(ep) {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", ep.host, ep.port)
 		}
 	}
 	return ""
diff --git a/cmd/utils_test.go b/cmd/utils_test.go
index 0b387d553..a046f5c52 100644
--- a/cmd/utils_test.go
+++ b/cmd/utils_test.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestCheckDuplicates(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Validate if function runs as expected.
 	for i, test := range tests {
-		err := checkDuplicates(test.list)
+		err := checkDuplicateStrings(test.list)
 		if test.shouldPass && err != test.err {
 			t.Errorf("Test: %d, Expected %s got %s", i+1, test.err, err)
 		}
@@ -233,11 +233,11 @@ func TestLocalAddress(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			srvCmdConfig: serverCmdConfig{
 				isDistXL: true,
-				disks: []string{
-					"localhost:/mnt/disk1",
-					"1.1.1.2:/mnt/disk2",
-					"1.1.2.1:/mnt/disk3",
-					"1.1.2.2:/mnt/disk4",
+				endPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{"localhost", 9000, "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{"1.1.1.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk2"},
+					{"1.1.2.1", 9000, "/mnt/disk3"},
+					{"1.1.2.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk4"},
 				},
 			},
 			localAddr: fmt.Sprintf("localhost:%d", globalMinioPort),
@@ -247,11 +247,11 @@ func TestLocalAddress(t *testing.T) {
 			srvCmdConfig: serverCmdConfig{
 				serverAddr: fmt.Sprintf(":%d", globalMinioPort),
 				isDistXL:   false,
-				disks: []string{
-					"/mnt/disk1",
-					"/mnt/disk2",
-					"/mnt/disk3",
-					"/mnt/disk4",
+				endPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{path: "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{path: "/mnt/disk2"},
+					{path: "/mnt/disk3"},
+					{path: "/mnt/disk4"},
 				},
 			},
 			localAddr: fmt.Sprintf(":%d", globalMinioPort),
@@ -260,11 +260,11 @@ func TestLocalAddress(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			srvCmdConfig: serverCmdConfig{
 				isDistXL: true,
-				disks: []string{
-					"1.1.1.1:/mnt/disk1",
-					"1.1.1.2:/mnt/disk2",
-					"1.1.2.1:/mnt/disk3",
-					"1.1.2.2:/mnt/disk4",
+				endPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{"1.1.1.1", 9000, "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{"1.1.1.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk2"},
+					{"1.1.2.1", 9000, "/mnt/disk3"},
+					{"1.1.2.2", 9000, "/mnt/disk4"},
 				},
 			},
 			localAddr: "",
@@ -276,11 +276,11 @@ func TestLocalAddress(t *testing.T) {
 			srvCmdConfig: serverCmdConfig{
 				serverAddr: "play.minio.io:9000",
 				isDistXL:   false,
-				disks: []string{
-					"/mnt/disk1",
-					"/mnt/disk2",
-					"/mnt/disk3",
-					"/mnt/disk4",
+				endPoints: []storageEndPoint{
+					{path: "/mnt/disk1"},
+					{path: "/mnt/disk2"},
+					{path: "/mnt/disk3"},
+					{path: "/mnt/disk4"},
 				},
 			},
 			localAddr: "play.minio.io:9000",
diff --git a/cmd/xl-v1_test.go b/cmd/xl-v1_test.go
index a1ff49fc7..5ada97883 100644
--- a/cmd/xl-v1_test.go
+++ b/cmd/xl-v1_test.go
@@ -51,7 +51,17 @@ func TestStorageInfo(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Diskinfo total values should be greater 0")
 	}
 
-	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(fsDirs, fsDirs[:4])
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
+
+	ignoredEndpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(fsDirs[:4], 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %s", err)
+	}
+
+	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(endpoints, ignoredEndpoints)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unexpected error: ", err)
 	}
@@ -141,7 +151,12 @@ func TestNewXL(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Unable to initialize erasure, %s", err)
 	}
 
-	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(erasureDisks, nil)
+	endpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(erasureDisks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to initialize erasure, %s", err)
+	}
+
+	storageDisks, err := initStorageDisks(endpoints, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unexpected error: ", err)
 	}
@@ -161,7 +176,16 @@ func TestNewXL(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Unable to initialize erasure, %s", err)
 	}
 
-	storageDisks, err = initStorageDisks(erasureDisks, erasureDisks[:2])
+	endpoints, err = parseStorageEndPoints(erasureDisks, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to initialize erasure, %s", err)
+	}
+
+	ignoredEndpoints, err := parseStorageEndPoints(erasureDisks[:2], 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to initialize erasure, %s", err)
+	}
+	storageDisks, err = initStorageDisks(endpoints, ignoredEndpoints)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Unexpected error: ", err)
 	}