1. A method for obtaining parameters for a co-processor from data accessed by a primary processor from a local memory, the method comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring, by the co-processor, of addresses generated by the primary processor, the addresses being for accessing memory locations within the local memory; (b) upon detecting a pre-determined bit pattern within an address generated by the primary processor, accessing, by the co-processor, a parameter within a portion of data addressed by the primary processor, the portion of the data being unused by the primary processor, the co-processor accessing the data as the data is transferred from the local memory to the primary processor, wherein the co-processor is used to perform DMA between an interface card and a host computer, the parameters describe a DMA transaction and the parameters are loaded by the co-processor into DMA registers, the primary processor, the co-processor and the local memory all residing within the interface card.