A network device may include various cards and modules, such as management modules, line cards, and switch fabric modules. In various implementations, these components can be “hot-plugged” meaning that the components can be inserted into and removed from the network device while the network device is powered on. In various implementations, hardware in the network device can identify when a component has been added. The hardware can notify a virtual machine, which can then notify the host operating system. The host operating system can added the component, and then notify the virtual machine to also add the component. Once the virtual machine has added the component, the component becomes available for use by processes executing on the virtual machine.