The present disclosure describes technologies and techniques for use by a data storage controller—such as a controller for use with a NAND device or other non-volatile memory (NVM)—to retrieve configuration information from a NAND boot partition during an initialization procedure initiated by a host. Within illustrative examples described herein, the configuration information stored in the NAND boot partition is provided in addition to configuration information stored within physical layer register sets of the data storage controller. In the examples, the data storage controller is configured for use with versions of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express—Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) that provide support for NAND boot partitions. In these examples, the use of the NAND boot partition allows an NVM device manufacturer to implement at least some new features in firmware or software within an existing NVM card, without modifying the physical layer registers.