Method for storage controllers with different data formats to access common storage configuration information

A method of operating a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a first storage controller to a disk drive, said first storage controller having a processor with Big-Endian attribute;
• communicating configuration information as a string of ASCII text from said first storage controller to said disk drive;
• storing said configuration information in said disk drive as said ASCII text;
• coupling a second storage controller to said disk drive, said second storage controller having a processor with a Little-Endian attribute;
• said second storage controller fetching said configuration information from said disk drive as a string of ASCII text and then displaying said configuration information based on said ASCII text;
• and
• said second storage controller subsequently converting said configuration information into said Little-Endian format.

A method of operating a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a first storage controller to a disk drive, said first storage controller having a processor with Little-Endian attribute;
• communicating configuration information as a string of ASCII text from said first storage controller to said disk drive;
• storing said configuration information in said disk drive as said ASCII text;
• coupling a second storage controller to said disk drive, said second storage controller having a processor with a Big-Endian attribute;
• said second storage controller fetching said configuration information from said disk drive as a string of ASCII text and then displaying said configuration information based on said ASCII text;
• and
• said second storage controller subsequently converting said configuration information into said Big-Endian format.

A method of operating a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a first storage controller to a disk drive, said first storage controller utilizing a first atomic size data structure to store data and also supporting ASCII text string format;
• communicating configuration information as a string of ASCII text from said first storage controller to said disk drive;
• storing said configuration information in said disk drive as said ASCII text;
• coupling a second storage controller to said disk drive, said second storage controller utilizing a second atomic size data structure to store data and also supporting ASCII text format, said second atomic size data structure being incompatible with said first atomic size data structure;
• and
• said second storage controller fetching said configuration information from said disk drive as a string of ASCII text and then displaying said configuration information based on said ASCII text.