Network adapter and method of using same

A method of using a network adapter that may be used in a network data storage system to permit data exchange among data exchanging devices and a data storage system input/output (I/O) controller, the controller residing in the data storage system the data exchanging devices being external to the adapter, the network adapter being one type of adapter selected from a group of different types of adapters that may communicate with the controller, the method comprising:

• coupling at least one control interface in the network adapter to the controller, each of the different types of adapters comprising at least one respective interface that is identical to the at least one control interface;
• and
• receiving at least one control logic section, via the at least one control interface, at least one command from the controller, the at least one control logic section also being configured such that the at least one control logic section may transmit to the controller, via the at least one control interface, information concerning operation of the network adapter, the at least one control logic section being configured to access, based upon the at least one command, memory that may contain the information and an executable command to be supplied to other logic in the network adapter;
• wherein the executable command, when executed by the network adapter, prevents the network adapter from supplying an interrupt signal to the controller in response to at least one type of event that may occur.