An FTDC interface with the host or user. The interface can include a command application programming interface (API) or a data storage Command-Line Interface (DS CLI)/Graphical User Interface (GUI). In certain embodiments, the FTDC interface allows a host or user to customize a desired FTDC on a two-tiered system. The first tier is one in which a host/user selects, from a list of conditions, which ones, upon occurrence of those conditions, they would like the controller to perform FTDC. In the second tier a second selection is made such that for each first tier item, the host/user will select the level of FTDC (collection and offloading of logs and/or the forcing and offloading of a statesave).