System information may be retrieved by an element manager on a device in a data center system where the element manager detects an application programming interface (API) call to the element manager from a centralized manager. The element manager establishes a two-way communication channel between the first element manager and the centralized manager according to a communications protocol. The element manager queries the centralized manager for data center system information through the two-way communication channel. The centralized manager manages a storage area network containing the device of the element manager.