+/**
+ * \brief Return the host by its name
+ *
+ * Finds a smx_host_t using its name.
+ * \param name The name of an host.
+ * \return The corresponding host
+ */
+smx_host_t SIMIX_host_get_by_name(const char *name)
+{
+ xbt_assert0(((simix_global != NULL)
+ && (simix_global->host != NULL)), "Environment not set yet");
+
+ return xbt_dict_get_or_null(simix_global->host, name);
+}
+
+/**
+ * \brief Returns a xbt_dynar_t consisting of the list of properties assigned to this host
+ *
+ * \param host a host
+ * \return the dynamic array consisting of property names
+ */
+xbt_dict_t SIMIX_host_get_properties(smx_host_t host)
+{
+ xbt_assert0((host != NULL), "Invalid parameters");
+
+ return surf_workstation_model->extension.workstation.get_properties(host->host);
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * \brief Return the state of a workstation
+ *
+ * Return the state of a workstation. Two states are possible, 1 if the host is active or 0 if it has crashed.
+ * \param host The SIMIX host
+ * \return 1 if host is available or 0 if not.
+ */
+int SIMIX_host_get_state(smx_host_t host)
+{
+ xbt_assert0((host != NULL), "Invalid parameters");