A method for preparing a storage system to execute input-output commands, IOs, issued by a virtual machine running on a host computer, the method characterised by : a storage system manager receiving a request from the host computer to prepare a metadata logical storage volume for the virtual machine, wherein the metadata logical storage volume includes configuration and log files for the virtual machine, a swap file for the virtual machine, and disk descriptor files, one for each of virtual disks of the virtual machine; in response to the request, the storage system manager creating the metadata logical storage volume for the virtual machine and returing the metadata logical storage volume ID to the host , and then receiving a binding request from the host for the metadata logical volume ID to establish an IO session , the storage system manager selecting a protocol endpoint comprising a logical endpoint for protocol traffic configured in the storage system through which IOs for the metadata logical storage volume are to be received and returning the protocol endpoint identifier and a secondary level identifier identifying the IO session; the host computer receiving read IOs through the selected protocol endpoint and returning read data, the read data including identifiers for data logical storage volumes; the storage system manager receiving a request from the host computer to prepare the data logical storage volumes for the virtual machine; the storage system manager creating a data logical storage volume for each virtual disk of the virtual machine; the storage system manager obtaining an identifier for each said data logical storage volume and transmitting the identifier to the host computer , and the host computer storing the identifier for the data logical storage volume in the disk descriptor file for the virtual disk. a storage system manager receiving a request from the host computer to prepare a metadata logical storage volume for the virtual machine, wherein the metadata logical storage volume includes configuration and log files for the virtual machine, a swap file for the virtual machine, and disk descriptor files, one for each of virtual disks of the virtual machine; in response to the request, the storage system manager creating the metadata logical storage volume for the virtual machine and returing the metadata logical storage volume ID to the host , and then receiving a binding request from the host for the metadata logical volume ID to establish an IO session , the storage system manager selecting a protocol endpoint comprising a logical endpoint for protocol traffic configured in the storage system through which IOs for the metadata logical storage volume are to be received and returning the protocol endpoint identifier and a secondary level identifier identifying the IO session; the host computer receiving read IOs through the selected protocol endpoint and returning read data, the read data including identifiers for data logical storage volumes; the storage system manager receiving a request from the host computer to prepare the data logical storage volumes for the virtual machine; the storage system manager creating a data logical storage volume for each virtual disk of the virtual machine; the storage system manager obtaining an identifier for each said data logical storage volume and transmitting the identifier to the host computer , and the host computer storing the identifier for the data logical storage volume in the disk descriptor file for the virtual disk. <EOS>