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

Described are a system and method for reading revision information from an adapter board that interfaces a disk drive using request and grant signals. An adapter board is in electrical communication with a disk drive and with a control board. The adapter board has a controller with memory for storing data, with a request input terminal for receiving a request signal from the control board requesting access to a disk drive, with a grant output terminal for transmitting a grant signal to the control board granting access to the disk drive, and with a power down input terminal for receiving a power down signal to turn off power to the disk drive. The controller enters a read mode of operation in response to receiving a power down signal on the power down input terminal to enable the data stored in the memory to be read.