Using request and grant signals to read revision information from an adapter board that interfaces a disk drive

In a storage system having a control board, a disk drive, and a controller in electrical communication with the disk drive and the control board, a method of reading information from the controller, the method comprising:

• sending an asserted power down signal from the control board to the controller;
• sending a de-asserted request signal from the control board to the controller;
• and
• entering a read mode of operation for reading data stored in the controller in response to the asserted power down signal and to the de-asserted request signal.

A storage system, comprising:

• a disk drive;
• a control board asserting a power down signal capable of causing power to the disk drive to be turned off;
• an electrical interface between a disk drive and the control board, the electrical interface having means for storing data and means for receiving the asserted power down signal from the control board;
• and
• means for enabling the control board to read data stored by the means for storing in response to the asserted power down signal received by the means for receiving, instead of turning off power to the disk drive.