diff --git a/src/utils/common/configuration.h b/src/utils/common/configuration.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2d03e2250a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/common/configuration.h
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#ifndef NIXL_SRC_UTILS_COMMON_CONFIGURATION_H
+#define NIXL_SRC_UTILS_COMMON_CONFIGURATION_H
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <charconv>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <optional>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <string>
+#include <strings.h>
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <typeinfo>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <absl/strings/str_join.h>
+
+#include "nixl_log.h"
+#include "nixl_types.h"
+
+namespace nixl::config {
+
+[[nodiscard]] inline std::optional<std::string>
+getenvOptional(const std::string &name) {
+    if (const char *value = std::getenv(name.c_str())) {
+        NIXL_DEBUG << "Obtained environment variable " << name << "=" << value;
+        return std::string(value);
+    }
+    NIXL_DEBUG << "Missing environment variable " << name;
+    return std::nullopt;
+}
+
+[[nodiscard]] inline std::string
+getenvDefaulted(const std::string &name, const std::string &fallback) {
+    if (const char *value = std::getenv(name.c_str())) {
+        NIXL_DEBUG << "Obtained environment variable " << name << "=" << value;
+        return std::string(value);
+    }
+    NIXL_DEBUG << "Using default '" << fallback << "' for missing environment variable " << name;
+    return fallback;
+}
+
+template<typename, typename = void> struct convertTraits;
+
+template<> struct convertTraits<bool> {
+    [[nodiscard]] static bool
+    convert(const std::string &value) {
+        static const std::vector<std::string> positive = {"y", "yes", "on", "1", "true", "enable"};
+
+        static const std::vector<std::string> negative = {
+            "n", "no", "off", "0", "false", "disable"};
+
+        if (match(value, positive)) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        if (match(value, negative)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        const std::string msg = "Conversion to bool failed for string '" + value + "' known are " +
+            absl::StrJoin(positive, ", ") + " as positive and " + absl::StrJoin(negative, ", ") +
+            " as negative (case insensitive)";
+        throw std::runtime_error(msg);
+    }
+
+private:
+    [[nodiscard]] static bool
+    match(const std::string &value, const std::vector<std::string> &haystack) noexcept {
+        const auto pred = [&](const std::string &ref) {
+            return strcasecmp(ref.c_str(), value.c_str()) == 0;
+        };
+        return std::find_if(haystack.begin(), haystack.end(), pred) != haystack.end();
+    }
+};
+
+template<> struct convertTraits<std::string> {
+    [[nodiscard]] static std::string
+    convert(const std::string &value) {
+        return value;
+    }
+};
+
+template<typename integer> struct integralTraits {
+    [[nodiscard]] static integer
+    convert(const std::string &value) {
+        integer result;
+        const auto status =
+            std::from_chars(start(value), value.data() + value.size(), result, base(value));
+        switch (status.ec) {
+        case std::errc::invalid_argument:
+            throw std::runtime_error("Invalid integer string '" + value + "' for type " +
+                                     typeid(integer).name());
+        case std::errc::result_out_of_range:
+            throw std::runtime_error("Integer string '" + value + "' out of range for type " +
+                                     typeid(integer).name());
+        default:
+            if (status.ptr != value.data() + value.size()) {
+                throw std::runtime_error("Trailing garbage in integer string '" + value + "'");
+            }
+            break;
+        }
+        return result;
+    }
+
+private:
+    [[nodiscard]] static bool
+    isHex(const std::string &value) noexcept {
+        return std::is_unsigned_v<integer> && (value.size() > 2) && (value[0] == '0') &&
+            ((value[1] == 'x') || (value[1] == 'X'));
+    }
+
+    [[nodiscard]] static int
+    base(const std::string &value) noexcept {
+        return isHex(value) ? 16 : 10;
+    }
+
+    [[nodiscard]] static const char *
+    start(const std::string &value) noexcept {
+        return value.data() + (isHex(value) ? 2 : 0);
+    }
+};
+
+template<typename integer>
+struct convertTraits<integer, std::enable_if_t<std::is_integral_v<integer>>>
+    : integralTraits<integer> {};
+
+template<typename type, template<typename...> class traits = convertTraits>
+[[nodiscard]] nixl_status_t
+getValueWithStatus(type &result, const std::string &env) {
+    if (const auto opt = getenvOptional(env)) {
+        try {
+            result = traits<std::decay_t<type>>::convert(*opt);
+            return NIXL_SUCCESS;
+        }
+        catch (const std::exception &e) {
+            NIXL_DEBUG << "Unable to convert value '" << *opt << "' from environment variable '"
+                       << env << "' to target type " << typeid(type).name();
+            return NIXL_ERR_MISMATCH;
+        }
+    }
+    return NIXL_ERR_NOT_FOUND;
+}
+
+template<typename type, template<typename...> class traits = convertTraits>
+[[nodiscard]] type
+getValue(const std::string &env) {
+    if (const auto opt = getenvOptional(env)) {
+        return traits<type>::convert(*opt);
+    }
+    throw std::runtime_error("Missing environment variable '" + env + "'");
+}
+
+template<typename type, template<typename...> class traits = convertTraits>
+[[nodiscard]] std::optional<type>
+getValueOptional(const std::string &env) {
+    if (const auto opt = getenvOptional(env)) {
+        return traits<type>::convert(*opt);
+    }
+    return std::nullopt;
+}
+
+template<typename type, template<typename...> class traits = convertTraits>
+[[nodiscard]] type
+getValueDefaulted(const std::string &env, const type &fallback) {
+    return getValueOptional<type, traits>(env).value_or(fallback);
+}
+
+} // namespace nixl::config
+
+#endif
diff --git a/test/gtest/configuration.cpp b/test/gtest/configuration.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..41b4eff8f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/gtest/configuration.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#include "common/configuration.h"
+#include "gtest/gtest.h"
+
+#include <limits>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace {
+
+const std::string variable = "NIXL_CONFIG_TEST";
+const std::string undefined = "ASDLFHASLK1298159816";
+
+} // namespace
+
+namespace nixl::config {
+
+TEST(Config, EnvWrapper) {
+    const std::string value = "foo";
+    ASSERT_EQ(::setenv(variable.c_str(), value.c_str(), 1), 0);
+    ASSERT_EQ(getenvOptional(variable), value);
+    const std::string fallback = "bar";
+    ASSERT_EQ(getenvDefaulted(variable, fallback), value);
+    ASSERT_FALSE(getenvOptional(undefined).has_value());
+    ASSERT_EQ(getenvDefaulted(undefined, fallback), fallback);
+}
+
+TEST(Config, Undefined) {
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueOptional<bool>(undefined), std::nullopt);
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueOptional<char>(undefined), std::nullopt);
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueOptional<std::string>(undefined), std::nullopt);
+
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueDefaulted<bool>(undefined, true), true);
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueDefaulted<bool>(undefined, false), false);
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueDefaulted<char>(undefined, 42), 42);
+    const std::string value = "foo";
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueDefaulted<std::string>(undefined, value), value);
+
+    bool b;
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueWithStatus(b, undefined), NIXL_ERR_NOT_FOUND);
+    char c;
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueWithStatus(c, undefined), NIXL_ERR_NOT_FOUND);
+    std::string s;
+    ASSERT_EQ(getValueWithStatus(s, undefined), NIXL_ERR_NOT_FOUND);
+}
+
+namespace {
+
+    template<typename T>
+    void
+    testSimpleSuccess(const std::string &input, const T value) {
+        ASSERT_EQ(::setenv(variable.c_str(), input.c_str(), 1), 0);
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValue<T>(variable), value);
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueOptional<T>(variable), value);
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueDefaulted<T>(variable, !value), value);
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValue<std::string>(variable), input);
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueOptional<std::string>(variable), input);
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueDefaulted<std::string>(variable, variable), input);
+        T out;
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueWithStatus(out, variable), NIXL_SUCCESS);
+        EXPECT_EQ(out, value);
+        std::string str;
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueWithStatus(str, variable), NIXL_SUCCESS);
+        EXPECT_EQ(str, input);
+    }
+
+    template<typename T>
+    void
+    testSimpleFailure(const std::string &input) {
+        ASSERT_EQ(::setenv(variable.c_str(), input.c_str(), 1), 0);
+        EXPECT_ANY_THROW((void)getValue<T>(variable));
+        EXPECT_ANY_THROW((void)getValueOptional<T>(variable));
+        EXPECT_ANY_THROW((void)getValueDefaulted<T>(variable, T()));
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValue<std::string>(variable), input);
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueOptional<std::string>(variable), input);
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueDefaulted<std::string>(variable, variable), input);
+        T out;
+        EXPECT_EQ(getValueWithStatus(out, variable), NIXL_ERR_MISMATCH);
+    }
+
+} // namespace
+
+TEST(Config, ConvertBool) {
+    testSimpleSuccess("1", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("0", false);
+    testSimpleSuccess("yes", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("no", false);
+    testSimpleSuccess("Yes", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("No", false);
+    testSimpleSuccess("YeS", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("nO", false);
+    testSimpleSuccess("enable", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("disable", false);
+    testSimpleSuccess("on", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("off", false);
+    testSimpleSuccess("oN", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("oFF", false);
+    testSimpleSuccess("TRUE", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("FALSE", false);
+    testSimpleSuccess("true", true);
+    testSimpleSuccess("false", false);
+
+    testSimpleFailure<bool>("");
+    testSimpleFailure<bool>("2");
+    testSimpleFailure<bool>("enabled");
+}
+
+namespace {
+    template<typename T>
+    void
+    testSigned() {
+        testSimpleSuccess("0", T(0));
+        testSimpleSuccess("1", T(1));
+        testSimpleSuccess("-1", T(-1));
+        testSimpleSuccess("42", T(42));
+        testSimpleSuccess("-42", T(-42));
+        const T min_value = std::numeric_limits<T>::min();
+        const std::string min_string = std::to_string(min_value);
+        testSimpleSuccess(min_string, min_value);
+        const T max_value = std::numeric_limits<T>::max();
+        const std::string max_string = std::to_string(max_value);
+        testSimpleSuccess(max_string, max_value);
+
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("-");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("+");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("+0");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("+1");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("r");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0y");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0x");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>(max_string + '0');
+        testSimpleFailure<T>(min_string + '0');
+
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0x0");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0x000");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0x01");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0x1f");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("-0x01");
+    }
+
+    template<typename T>
+    void
+    testUnsigned() {
+        testSimpleSuccess("0", T(0));
+        testSimpleSuccess("1", T(1));
+        testSimpleSuccess("42", T(42));
+        const T max_value = std::numeric_limits<T>::max();
+        const std::string max_string = std::to_string(max_value);
+        testSimpleSuccess(max_string, max_value);
+
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>(" 0");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0 ");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("-");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("+");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("-0");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("-1");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("-42");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("+1");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("+0");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("+42");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("-m");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("r");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0y");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("0x");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>(max_string + '0');
+
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0x0", T(0));
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0x000", T(0));
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0x01", T(1));
+
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0X0", T(0));
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0X000", T(0));
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0X01", T(1));
+
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0x1f", T(31));
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0X1f", T(31));
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0X1F", T(31));
+        testSimpleSuccess<T>("0x1F", T(31));
+
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("+0x00");
+        testSimpleFailure<T>("1x00");
+    }
+
+} // namespace
+
+TEST(Config, ConvertSigned) {
+    testSigned<std::int8_t>();
+    testSigned<std::int16_t>();
+    testSigned<std::int32_t>();
+    testSigned<std::int64_t>();
+}
+
+TEST(Config, ConvertUnsigned) {
+    testUnsigned<std::uint8_t>();
+    testUnsigned<std::uint16_t>();
+    testUnsigned<std::uint32_t>();
+    testUnsigned<std::uint64_t>();
+}
+
+} // namespace nixl::config
diff --git a/test/gtest/meson.build b/test/gtest/meson.build
index b150f23347..3d8b7bc7f3 100644
--- a/test/gtest/meson.build
+++ b/test/gtest/meson.build
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ gtest_sources = [
     'metadata_exchange.cpp',
     'common.cpp',
     'query_mem.cpp',
-    'telemetry_test.cpp'
+    'telemetry_test.cpp',
+    'configuration.cpp'
     ]
 
 if ucx_gpu_device_api_available