Dynamic run-time configuration information provision and retrieval

A method for a configuration information exchange between a host system and a storage device, the method comprising:

• the host system managing host system configuration information in a management layer of a communication model;
• and
• the host system communicating the host system configuration information to the storage device by at least one communication layer of the communication model;
• and wherein
• the host system manages storage device configuration information in the management layer of the communication model;
• and
• the host system communicates the storage device configuration information to the storage device by the at least one communication layer of the communication model.

A host system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions operable with the processor for a configuration information exchange between the host system and a storage device, the instructions being executed for:
• the host system managing host system configuration information in a management layer of a communication model, the host system configuration information including a host system name representative of the host system as configured on the host system, a device special file name representative of the storage device as configured on the host system, operating system specification information indicative of operational details of an operating system of the host system, device driver configuration specification indicative of operational details of a device driver of the host system, host system bus adapter specification information indicative of operational details of a host system bus adapter of the host system, application specification information indicative of operational details of an application of the host system, bus address information associated with I/O operations of the host system, and, bus address information associated with I/O operations of the host system;
• and
• the host system communicating the host system configuration information to the storage device by at least one communication layer of the communication model;
• and wherein
• the host system manages storage device configuration information in the management layer of the communication model;
• and
• the host system communicates the storage device configuration information to the storage device by the at least one communication layer of the communication model.