1. A computer program product, comprising: a computer readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising: activating, by a control component of a computing environment, a virtual adapter hosted on a physical adapter of a host system of the computing environment, the virtual adapter for use by a guest of the host system in performing data input and output, wherein the control component is separate from the host system, and the activating comprises the control component providing a request to the physical adapter that the virtual adapter be activated; based on activating the virtual adapter, obtaining, by the control component, configuration information of the activated virtual adapter from the physical adapter, the configuration information generated based on the activating; and ascertaining, by the control component, a configuration of the activated virtual adapter based on the obtained configuration information, wherein the activating activates the virtual adapter absent involvement of the guest.