In one aspect of storage device status management in accordance with the present description, a host can determine not only whether a particular volume maintained by a storage unit controlled by a storage controller is on-line with respect to another host, but also whether that volume is actually in use by another host. Accordingly, should one host determine that a volume is in use by another host, the one host can defer its use of the volume until the volume is no longer in use by another host. In this manner, conflicts which may lead to loss of data integrity may be reduced or eliminated, providing a significant improvement in computer technology. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.