An enhanced VPD structure includes a type field to indicate whether a particular property is a general property to be associated with an interface card or other computer system component, or a device- or function-specific property to be associated with one or more devices or functions. The enhanced VPD structure also includes fields for identifying the device(s) and/or function(s) to which a device- or function-specific property applies, along with the value of the property, a data type and length of the property, and a meaningful name of the property. The enhanced VPD structure may be accessed during system boot, during hot-swapping of an interface card or other component, or at other times.