A method of displaying states of a peripheral data storage system (PDSS) comprising a data storage device, a data storage system controller, a user-actuated signaling subsystem, a user display subsystem adapted to display the states, and a peripheral data storage controller host interface adapted for communication with a host system. The method includes determining a state of the PDSS; displaying a first display state via the user display subsystem if the PDSS is in an idle state; displaying a second display state via the user display subsystem if the PDSS is in a state corresponding to receiving a signal from the user-actuated signaling subsystem; displaying a third display state via the user display subsystem if the PDSS is in a dynamically active state; and displaying a fourth display state via the user display subsystem if the PDSS is in an off state.