diff --git a/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volume_plugin.go b/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volume_plugin.go
index 961466b12..ce113a4e8 100644
--- a/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volume_plugin.go
+++ b/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volume_plugin.go
@@ -20,17 +20,23 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper"
 )
 
-type PluginFingerprint struct {
-	Version *version.Version `json:"version"`
-}
-
+// HostVolumePlugin manages the lifecycle of volumes.
 type HostVolumePlugin interface {
 	Fingerprint(ctx context.Context) (*PluginFingerprint, error)
 	Create(ctx context.Context, req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest) (*HostVolumePluginCreateResponse, error)
 	Delete(ctx context.Context, req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteRequest) error
-	// db TODO(1.10.0): update? resize? ??
 }
 
+// PluginFingerprint gets set on the node for volume scheduling.
+// Plugins are expected to respond to 'fingerprint' calls with json that
+// unmarshals to this struct.
+type PluginFingerprint struct {
+	Version *version.Version `json:"version"`
+}
+
+// HostVolumePluginCreateResponse gets stored on the volume in server state.
+// Plugins are expected to respond to 'create' calls with json that
+// unmarshals to this struct.
 type HostVolumePluginCreateResponse struct {
 	Path      string `json:"path"`
 	SizeBytes int64  `json:"bytes"`
@@ -41,6 +47,8 @@ const HostVolumePluginMkdirVersion = "0.0.1"
 
 var _ HostVolumePlugin = &HostVolumePluginMkdir{}
 
+// HostVolumePluginMkdir is a plugin that creates a directory within the
+// specified TargetPath. It is built-in to Nomad, so is always available.
 type HostVolumePluginMkdir struct {
 	ID         string
 	TargetPath string
@@ -66,7 +74,8 @@ func (p *HostVolumePluginMkdir) Create(_ context.Context,
 	log.Debug("running plugin")
 
 	resp := &HostVolumePluginCreateResponse{
-		Path:      path,
+		Path: path,
+		// "mkdir" volumes, being simple directories, have unrestricted size
 		SizeBytes: 0,
 	}
 
@@ -109,6 +118,8 @@ func (p *HostVolumePluginMkdir) Delete(_ context.Context, req *cstructs.ClientHo
 
 var _ HostVolumePlugin = &HostVolumePluginExternal{}
 
+// NewHostVolumePluginExternal returns an external host volume plugin
+// if the specified executable exists on disk.
 func NewHostVolumePluginExternal(log hclog.Logger,
 	id, executable, targetPath string) (*HostVolumePluginExternal, error) {
 	// this should only be called with already-detected executables,
@@ -132,6 +143,10 @@ func NewHostVolumePluginExternal(log hclog.Logger,
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// HostVolumePluginExternal calls an executable on disk. All operations
+// *must* be idempotent, and safe to be called concurrently per volume.
+// For each call, the executable's stdout and stderr may be logged, so plugin
+// authors should not include any sensitive information in their plugin outputs.
 type HostVolumePluginExternal struct {
 	ID         string
 	Executable string
@@ -140,6 +155,15 @@ type HostVolumePluginExternal struct {
 	log hclog.Logger
 }
 
+// Fingerprint calls the executable with the following parameters:
+// arguments: fingerprint
+// environment:
+// OPERATION=fingerprint
+//
+// Response should be valid JSON on stdout, with a "version" key, e.g.:
+// {"version": "0.0.1"}
+// The version value should be a valid version number as allowed by
+// version.NewVersion()
 func (p *HostVolumePluginExternal) Fingerprint(ctx context.Context) (*PluginFingerprint, error) {
 	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, p.Executable, "fingerprint")
 	cmd.Env = []string{"OPERATION=fingerprint"}
@@ -159,12 +183,28 @@ func (p *HostVolumePluginExternal) Fingerprint(ctx context.Context) (*PluginFing
 	return fprint, nil
 }
 
+// Create calls the executable with the following parameters:
+// arguments: create {path to create}
+// environment:
+// OPERATION=create
+// HOST_PATH={path to create}
+// NODE_ID={Nomad node ID}
+// VOLUME_NAME={name from the volume specification}
+// CAPACITY_MIN_BYTES={capacity_min from the volume spec}
+// CAPACITY_MAX_BYTES={capacity_max from the volume spec}
+// PARAMETERS={json of parameters from the volume spec}
+//
+// Response should be valid JSON on stdout with "path" and "bytes", e.g.:
+// {"path": $HOST_PATH, "bytes": 50000000}
+// "path" must be provided to confirm that the requested path is what was
+// created by the plugin. "bytes" is the actual size of the volume created
+// by the plugin; if excluded, it will default to 0.
 func (p *HostVolumePluginExternal) Create(ctx context.Context,
 	req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest) (*HostVolumePluginCreateResponse, error) {
 
-	params, err := json.Marshal(req.Parameters) // db TODO(1.10.0): document if this is nil, then PARAMETERS env will be "null"
+	params, err := json.Marshal(req.Parameters)
 	if err != nil {
-		// this is a proper error, because users can set this in the volume spec
+		// should never happen; req.Parameters is a simple map[string]string
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error marshaling volume pramaters: %w", err)
 	}
 	envVars := []string{
@@ -181,22 +221,37 @@ func (p *HostVolumePluginExternal) Create(ctx context.Context,
 	}
 
 	var pluginResp HostVolumePluginCreateResponse
-	err = json.Unmarshal(stdout, &pluginResp) // db TODO(1.10.0): if this fails, then the volume may have been created, according to the plugin, but Nomad will not save it
+	err = json.Unmarshal(stdout, &pluginResp)
 	if err != nil {
+		// note: if a plugin does not return valid json, a volume may be
+		// created without any respective state in Nomad, since we return
+		// an error here after the plugin has done who-knows-what.
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return &pluginResp, nil
 }
 
+// Delete calls the executable with the following parameters:
+// arguments: delete {path to create}
+// environment:
+// OPERATION=delete
+// HOST_PATH={path to create}
+// NODE_ID={Nomad node ID}
+// VOLUME_NAME={name from the volume specification}
+// PARAMETERS={json of parameters from the volume spec}
+//
+// Response on stdout is discarded.
 func (p *HostVolumePluginExternal) Delete(ctx context.Context,
 	req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteRequest) error {
 
 	params, err := json.Marshal(req.Parameters)
 	if err != nil {
+		// should never happen; req.Parameters is a simple map[string]string
 		return fmt.Errorf("error marshaling volume pramaters: %w", err)
 	}
 	envVars := []string{
 		"NODE_ID=" + req.NodeID,
+		"VOLUME_NAME=" + req.Name,
 		"PARAMETERS=" + string(params),
 	}
 
@@ -207,6 +262,9 @@ func (p *HostVolumePluginExternal) Delete(ctx context.Context,
 	return nil
 }
 
+// runPlugin executes the... executable with these additional env vars:
+// OPERATION={op}
+// HOST_PATH={p.TargetPath/volID}
 func (p *HostVolumePluginExternal) runPlugin(ctx context.Context,
 	op, volID string, env []string) (stdout, stderr []byte, err error) {
 
@@ -239,6 +297,7 @@ func (p *HostVolumePluginExternal) runPlugin(ctx context.Context,
 	return stdout, stderr, nil
 }
 
+// runCommand executes the provided Cmd and captures stdout and stderr.
 func runCommand(cmd *exec.Cmd) (stdout, stderr []byte, err error) {
 	var errBuf bytes.Buffer
 	cmd.Stderr = io.Writer(&errBuf)
diff --git a/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volume_plugin_test.go b/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volume_plugin_test.go
index 0552810bb..de008bbd8 100644
--- a/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volume_plugin_test.go
+++ b/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volume_plugin_test.go
@@ -4,19 +4,13 @@
 package hostvolumemanager
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"io"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
-	"github.com/hashicorp/go-hclog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-version"
 	cstructs "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testlog"
-	"github.com/shoenig/test"
 	"github.com/shoenig/test/must"
 )
 
@@ -37,23 +31,29 @@ func TestHostVolumePluginMkdir(t *testing.T) {
 	must.NoError(t, err)
 
 	t.Run("happy", func(t *testing.T) {
-		resp, err := plug.Create(timeout(t),
-			&cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest{
-				ID: volID, // minimum required by this plugin
-			})
-		must.NoError(t, err)
-		must.Eq(t, &HostVolumePluginCreateResponse{
-			Path:      target,
-			SizeBytes: 0,
-		}, resp)
-		must.DirExists(t, target)
+		// run multiple times, should be idempotent
+		for range 2 {
+			resp, err := plug.Create(timeout(t),
+				&cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest{
+					ID: volID, // minimum required by this plugin
+				})
+			must.NoError(t, err)
+			must.Eq(t, &HostVolumePluginCreateResponse{
+				Path:      target,
+				SizeBytes: 0,
+			}, resp)
+			must.DirExists(t, target)
+		}
 
-		err = plug.Delete(timeout(t),
-			&cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteRequest{
-				ID: volID,
-			})
-		must.NoError(t, err)
-		must.DirNotExists(t, target)
+		// delete should be idempotent, too
+		for range 2 {
+			err = plug.Delete(timeout(t),
+				&cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteRequest{
+					ID: volID,
+				})
+			must.NoError(t, err)
+			must.DirNotExists(t, target)
+		}
 	})
 
 	t.Run("sad", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -75,6 +75,31 @@ func TestHostVolumePluginMkdir(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestNewHostVolumePluginExternal(t *testing.T) {
+	log := testlog.HCLogger(t)
+	var err error
+
+	_, err = NewHostVolumePluginExternal(log, "test-id", "non-existent", "target")
+	must.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPluginNotExists)
+
+	_, err = NewHostVolumePluginExternal(log, "test-id", "host_volume_plugin_test.go", "target")
+	must.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPluginNotExecutable)
+
+	t.Run("unix", func(t *testing.T) {
+		if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+			t.Skip("skipped because windows") // db TODO(1.10.0)
+		}
+		p, err := NewHostVolumePluginExternal(log, "test-id", "./test_fixtures/test_plugin.sh", "test-target")
+		must.NoError(t, err)
+		must.Eq(t, &HostVolumePluginExternal{
+			ID:         "test-id",
+			Executable: "./test_fixtures/test_plugin.sh",
+			TargetPath: "test-target",
+			log:        log,
+		}, p)
+	})
+}
+
 func TestHostVolumePluginExternal(t *testing.T) {
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
 		t.Skip("skipped because windows") // db TODO(1.10.0)
@@ -187,29 +212,3 @@ func TestHostVolumePluginExternal(t *testing.T) {
 		must.StrContains(t, logged, "delete: it tells you all about it in stderr")
 	})
 }
-
-// timeout provides a context that times out in 1 second
-func timeout(t *testing.T) context.Context {
-	t.Helper()
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second)
-	t.Cleanup(cancel)
-	return ctx
-}
-
-// logRecorder is here so we can assert that stdout/stderr appear in logs
-func logRecorder(t *testing.T) (hclog.Logger, func() string) {
-	t.Helper()
-	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	logger := hclog.New(&hclog.LoggerOptions{
-		Name:            "log-recorder",
-		Output:          buf,
-		Level:           hclog.Debug,
-		IncludeLocation: true,
-		DisableTime:     true,
-	})
-	return logger, func() string {
-		bts, err := io.ReadAll(buf)
-		test.NoError(t, err)
-		return string(bts)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volumes.go b/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volumes.go
index 82ccb8f47..aea84ee89 100644
--- a/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volumes.go
+++ b/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volumes.go
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@ var (
 	ErrPluginNotExecutable = errors.New("plugin not executable")
 )
 
+// HostVolumeStateManager manages the lifecycle of volumes in client state.
 type HostVolumeStateManager interface {
 	PutDynamicHostVolume(*cstructs.HostVolumeState) error
 	GetDynamicHostVolumes() ([]*cstructs.HostVolumeState, error)
 	DeleteDynamicHostVolume(string) error
 }
 
+// Config is used to configure a HostVolumeManager.
 type Config struct {
 	// PluginDir is where external plugins may be found.
 	PluginDir string
@@ -43,97 +45,38 @@ type Config struct {
 	UpdateNodeVols HostVolumeNodeUpdater
 }
 
+// HostVolumeManager executes plugins, manages volume metadata in client state,
+// and registers volumes with the client node.
 type HostVolumeManager struct {
 	pluginDir      string
 	sharedMountDir string
 	stateMgr       HostVolumeStateManager
 	updateNodeVols HostVolumeNodeUpdater
+	builtIns       map[string]HostVolumePlugin
 	log            hclog.Logger
 }
 
+// NewHostVolumeManager includes default builtin plugins.
 func NewHostVolumeManager(logger hclog.Logger, config Config) *HostVolumeManager {
-	// db TODO(1.10.0): document plugin config options
+	logger = logger.Named("host_volume_manager")
 	return &HostVolumeManager{
 		pluginDir:      config.PluginDir,
 		sharedMountDir: config.SharedMountDir,
 		stateMgr:       config.StateMgr,
 		updateNodeVols: config.UpdateNodeVols,
-		log:            logger.Named("host_volume_manager"),
+		builtIns: map[string]HostVolumePlugin{
+			HostVolumePluginMkdirID: &HostVolumePluginMkdir{
+				ID:         HostVolumePluginMkdirID,
+				TargetPath: config.SharedMountDir,
+				log:        logger.With("plugin_id", HostVolumePluginMkdirID),
+			},
+		},
+		log: logger,
 	}
 }
 
-func genVolConfig(req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest, resp *HostVolumePluginCreateResponse) *structs.ClientHostVolumeConfig {
-	if req == nil || resp == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return &structs.ClientHostVolumeConfig{
-		Name: req.Name,
-		ID:   req.ID,
-		Path: resp.Path,
-
-		// dynamic volumes, like CSI, have more robust `capabilities`,
-		// so we always set ReadOnly to false, and let the scheduler
-		// decide when to ignore this and check capabilities instead.
-		ReadOnly: false,
-	}
-}
-
-func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) restoreFromState(ctx context.Context) (VolumeMap, error) {
-	vols, err := hvm.stateMgr.GetDynamicHostVolumes()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	volumes := make(VolumeMap)
-	var mut sync.Mutex
-
-	if len(vols) == 0 {
-		return volumes, nil // nothing to do
-	}
-
-	// re-"create" the volumes - plugins have the best knowledge of their
-	// side effects, and they must be idempotent.
-	group := multierror.Group{}
-	for _, vol := range vols {
-		group.Go(func() error { // db TODO(1.10.0): document that plugins must be safe to run concurrently
-			// missing plugins with associated volumes in state are considered
-			// client-stopping errors. they need to be fixed by cluster admins.
-			plug, err := hvm.getPlugin(vol.CreateReq.PluginID)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			resp, err := plug.Create(ctx, vol.CreateReq)
-			if err != nil {
-				// plugin execution errors are only logged
-				hvm.log.Error("failed to restore", "plugin_id", vol.CreateReq.PluginID, "volume_id", vol.ID, "error", err)
-				return nil
-			}
-			mut.Lock()
-			volumes[vol.CreateReq.Name] = genVolConfig(vol.CreateReq, resp)
-			mut.Unlock()
-			return nil
-		})
-	}
-	mErr := group.Wait()
-	return volumes, helper.FlattenMultierror(mErr.ErrorOrNil())
-}
-
-func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) getPlugin(id string) (HostVolumePlugin, error) {
-	log := hvm.log.With("plugin_id", id)
-
-	if id == HostVolumePluginMkdirID {
-		return &HostVolumePluginMkdir{
-			ID:         HostVolumePluginMkdirID,
-			TargetPath: hvm.sharedMountDir,
-			log:        log,
-		}, nil
-	}
-
-	path := filepath.Join(hvm.pluginDir, id)
-	return NewHostVolumePluginExternal(log, id, path, hvm.sharedMountDir)
-}
-
+// Create runs the appropriate plugin for the given request, saves the request
+// to state, and updates the node with the volume.
 func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) Create(ctx context.Context,
 	req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest) (*cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateResponse, error) {
 
@@ -181,6 +124,8 @@ func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) Create(ctx context.Context,
 	return resp, nil
 }
 
+// Delete runs the appropriate plugin for the given request, removes it from
+// state, and updates the node to remove the volume.
 func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) Delete(ctx context.Context,
 	req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteRequest) (*cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteResponse, error) {
 
@@ -208,3 +153,71 @@ func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) Delete(ctx context.Context,
 
 	return resp, nil
 }
+
+// getPlugin finds either a built-in plugin or an external plugin.
+func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) getPlugin(id string) (HostVolumePlugin, error) {
+	if plug, ok := hvm.builtIns[id]; ok {
+		return plug, nil
+	}
+	log := hvm.log.With("plugin_id", id)
+	path := filepath.Join(hvm.pluginDir, id)
+	return NewHostVolumePluginExternal(log, id, path, hvm.sharedMountDir)
+}
+
+// restoreFromState loads all volumes from client state and runs Create for
+// each one, so volumes are restored upon agent restart or host reboot.
+func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) restoreFromState(ctx context.Context) (VolumeMap, error) {
+	vols, err := hvm.stateMgr.GetDynamicHostVolumes()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	volumes := make(VolumeMap)
+	var mut sync.Mutex
+
+	if len(vols) == 0 {
+		return volumes, nil // nothing to do
+	}
+
+	// re-"create" the volumes - plugins have the best knowledge of their
+	// side effects, and they must be idempotent.
+	group := multierror.Group{}
+	for _, vol := range vols {
+		group.Go(func() error {
+			// missing plugins with associated volumes in state are considered
+			// client-stopping errors. they need to be fixed by cluster admins.
+			plug, err := hvm.getPlugin(vol.CreateReq.PluginID)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			resp, err := plug.Create(ctx, vol.CreateReq)
+			if err != nil {
+				// plugin execution errors are only logged
+				hvm.log.Error("failed to restore", "plugin_id", vol.CreateReq.PluginID, "volume_id", vol.ID, "error", err)
+				return nil
+			}
+			mut.Lock()
+			volumes[vol.CreateReq.Name] = genVolConfig(vol.CreateReq, resp)
+			mut.Unlock()
+			return nil
+		})
+	}
+	mErr := group.Wait()
+	return volumes, helper.FlattenMultierror(mErr.ErrorOrNil())
+}
+
+// genVolConfig generates the host volume config for the node to report as
+// available to the servers for job scheduling.
+func genVolConfig(req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest, resp *HostVolumePluginCreateResponse) *structs.ClientHostVolumeConfig {
+	return &structs.ClientHostVolumeConfig{
+		Name: req.Name,
+		ID:   req.ID,
+		Path: resp.Path,
+
+		// dynamic volumes, like CSI, have more robust `capabilities`,
+		// so we always set ReadOnly to false, and let the scheduler
+		// decide when to ignore this and check capabilities instead.
+		ReadOnly: false,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volumes_test.go b/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volumes_test.go
index 15a3a2fca..1b76be152 100644
--- a/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volumes_test.go
+++ b/client/hostvolumemanager/host_volumes_test.go
@@ -4,21 +4,184 @@
 package hostvolumemanager
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-hclog"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-version"
 	cstate "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/state"
 	cstructs "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testlog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
+	"github.com/shoenig/test"
 	"github.com/shoenig/test/must"
 )
 
-// db TODO(1.10.0): improve hostvolumemanager tests.
+func TestHostVolumeManager(t *testing.T) {
+	log := testlog.HCLogger(t)
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	errDB := &cstate.ErrDB{}
+	memDB := cstate.NewMemDB(log)
+	node := newFakeNode()
 
-func TestNewHostVolumeManager_restoreState(t *testing.T) {
+	hvm := NewHostVolumeManager(log, Config{
+		PluginDir:      "./test_fixtures",
+		SharedMountDir: tmp,
+		StateMgr:       errDB,
+		UpdateNodeVols: node.updateVol,
+	})
+
+	plug := &fakePlugin{mountDir: tmp}
+	hvm.builtIns["test-plugin"] = plug
+
+	ctx := timeout(t)
+
+	t.Run("create", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// plugin doesn't exist
+		req := &cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest{
+			ID:       "vol-id",
+			Name:     "vol-name",
+			PluginID: "nope",
+
+			RequestedCapacityMinBytes: 5,
+		}
+		_, err := hvm.Create(ctx, req)
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPluginNotExists)
+
+		// error from plugin
+		req.PluginID = "test-plugin"
+		plug.createErr = errors.New("sad create")
+		_, err = hvm.Create(ctx, req)
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, plug.createErr)
+		plug.reset()
+
+		// error saving state, then error from cleanup attempt
+		plug.deleteErr = errors.New("sad delete")
+		_, err = hvm.Create(ctx, req)
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, cstate.ErrDBError)
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, plug.deleteErr)
+		plug.reset()
+
+		// error saving state, successful cleanup
+		_, err = hvm.Create(ctx, req)
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, cstate.ErrDBError)
+		must.Eq(t, "vol-id", plug.deleted)
+		plug.reset()
+
+		// happy path
+		hvm.stateMgr = memDB
+		resp, err := hvm.Create(ctx, req)
+		must.NoError(t, err)
+		must.Eq(t, &cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateResponse{
+			VolumeName:    "vol-name",
+			VolumeID:      "vol-id",
+			HostPath:      tmp,
+			CapacityBytes: 5,
+		}, resp)
+		stateDBs, err := memDB.GetDynamicHostVolumes()
+		must.NoError(t, err)
+		// should be saved to state
+		must.Len(t, 1, stateDBs)
+		must.Eq(t, "vol-id", stateDBs[0].ID)
+		must.Eq(t, "vol-id", stateDBs[0].CreateReq.ID)
+		// should be registered with node
+		must.MapContainsKey(t, node.vols, "vol-name", must.Sprintf("no vol-name in %+v", node.vols))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("delete", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// plugin doesn't exist
+		req := &cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteRequest{
+			ID:       "vol-id",
+			Name:     "vol-name",
+			PluginID: "nope",
+		}
+		_, err := hvm.Delete(ctx, req)
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPluginNotExists)
+
+		// error from plugin
+		req.PluginID = "test-plugin"
+		plug.deleteErr = errors.New("sad delete")
+		_, err = hvm.Delete(ctx, req)
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, plug.deleteErr)
+		plug.reset()
+
+		// error saving state
+		hvm.stateMgr = errDB
+		_, err = hvm.Delete(ctx, req)
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, cstate.ErrDBError)
+
+		// happy path
+		// add stuff that should be deleted
+		hvm.stateMgr = memDB
+		must.NoError(t, memDB.PutDynamicHostVolume(&cstructs.HostVolumeState{
+			ID:        "vol-id",
+			CreateReq: &cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest{},
+		}))
+		node.vols = VolumeMap{
+			"vol-name": &structs.ClientHostVolumeConfig{},
+		}
+		// and delete it
+		resp, err := hvm.Delete(ctx, req)
+		must.NoError(t, err)
+		must.Eq(t, &cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteResponse{
+			VolumeName: "vol-name",
+			VolumeID:   "vol-id",
+		}, resp)
+		must.Eq(t, VolumeMap{}, node.vols, must.Sprint("vols should be deleted from node"))
+		stateVols, err := memDB.GetDynamicHostVolumes()
+		must.NoError(t, err)
+		must.Nil(t, stateVols, must.Sprint("vols should be deleted from state"))
+	})
+}
+
+type fakePlugin struct {
+	mountDir       string
+	created        string
+	deleted        string
+	fingerprintErr error
+	createErr      error
+	deleteErr      error
+}
+
+func (p *fakePlugin) reset() {
+	p.deleted, p.fingerprintErr, p.createErr, p.deleteErr = "", nil, nil, nil
+}
+
+func (p *fakePlugin) Fingerprint(_ context.Context) (*PluginFingerprint, error) {
+	if p.fingerprintErr != nil {
+		return nil, p.fingerprintErr
+	}
+	v, err := version.NewVersion("0.0.1")
+	return &PluginFingerprint{
+		Version: v,
+	}, err
+}
+
+func (p *fakePlugin) Create(_ context.Context, req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest) (*HostVolumePluginCreateResponse, error) {
+	if p.createErr != nil {
+		return nil, p.createErr
+	}
+	p.created = req.ID
+	return &HostVolumePluginCreateResponse{
+		Path:      p.mountDir,
+		SizeBytes: req.RequestedCapacityMinBytes,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (p *fakePlugin) Delete(_ context.Context, req *cstructs.ClientHostVolumeDeleteRequest) error {
+	if p.deleteErr != nil {
+		return p.deleteErr
+	}
+	p.deleted = req.ID
+	return nil
+}
+
+func TestHostVolumeManager_restoreFromState(t *testing.T) {
 	log := testlog.HCLogger(t)
 	vol := &cstructs.HostVolumeState{
 		ID: "test-vol-id",
@@ -28,7 +191,18 @@ func TestNewHostVolumeManager_restoreState(t *testing.T) {
 			PluginID: "mkdir",
 		},
 	}
-	fNode := newFakeNode()
+	node := newFakeNode()
+
+	t.Run("no vols", func(t *testing.T) {
+		state := cstate.NewMemDB(log)
+		hvm := NewHostVolumeManager(log, Config{
+			StateMgr: state,
+			// no other fields are necessary when there are zero volumes
+		})
+		vols, err := hvm.restoreFromState(timeout(t))
+		must.NoError(t, err)
+		must.Eq(t, VolumeMap{}, vols)
+	})
 
 	t.Run("happy", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// put our volume in state
@@ -42,14 +216,12 @@ func TestNewHostVolumeManager_restoreState(t *testing.T) {
 
 		hvm := NewHostVolumeManager(log, Config{
 			StateMgr:       state,
-			UpdateNodeVols: fNode.updateVol,
+			UpdateNodeVols: node.updateVol,
 			PluginDir:      "/wherever",
 			SharedMountDir: mountDir,
 		})
 
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second)
-		defer cancel()
-		vols, err := hvm.restoreFromState(ctx)
+		vols, err := hvm.restoreFromState(timeout(t))
 		must.NoError(t, err)
 
 		expect := map[string]*structs.ClientHostVolumeConfig{
@@ -65,23 +237,55 @@ func TestNewHostVolumeManager_restoreState(t *testing.T) {
 		must.DirExists(t, volPath)
 	})
 
-	t.Run("get error", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("state error", func(t *testing.T) {
 		state := &cstate.ErrDB{}
-		hvm := NewHostVolumeManager(log, Config{
-			StateMgr:       state,
-			UpdateNodeVols: fNode.updateVol,
-			PluginDir:      "/wherever",
-			SharedMountDir: "/wherever",
-		})
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second)
-		defer cancel()
-		vols, err := hvm.restoreFromState(ctx)
-		// error loading state should break the world
+		hvm := NewHostVolumeManager(log, Config{StateMgr: state})
+		vols, err := hvm.restoreFromState(timeout(t))
 		must.ErrorIs(t, err, cstate.ErrDBError)
 		must.Nil(t, vols)
 	})
 
-	// db TODO: test plugin error
+	t.Run("plugin missing", func(t *testing.T) {
+		state := cstate.NewMemDB(log)
+		vol := &cstructs.HostVolumeState{
+			CreateReq: &cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest{
+				PluginID: "nonexistent-plugin",
+			},
+		}
+		must.NoError(t, state.PutDynamicHostVolume(vol))
+
+		hvm := NewHostVolumeManager(log, Config{StateMgr: state})
+		vols, err := hvm.restoreFromState(timeout(t))
+		must.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPluginNotExists)
+		must.MapEmpty(t, vols)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("plugin error", func(t *testing.T) {
+		state := cstate.NewMemDB(log)
+		vol := &cstructs.HostVolumeState{
+			ID: "test-volume",
+			CreateReq: &cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest{
+				PluginID: "test-plugin",
+			},
+		}
+		must.NoError(t, state.PutDynamicHostVolume(vol))
+
+		log, getLogs := logRecorder(t)
+		hvm := NewHostVolumeManager(log, Config{StateMgr: state})
+		plug := &fakePlugin{
+			createErr: errors.New("sad create"),
+		}
+		hvm.builtIns["test-plugin"] = plug
+
+		vols, err := hvm.restoreFromState(timeout(t))
+		// error during restore should not halt the whole client
+		must.NoError(t, err)
+		must.NotNil(t, vols)
+		// but it should log
+		logs := getLogs()
+		must.StrContains(t, logs, "[ERROR]")
+		must.StrContains(t, logs, `failed to restore: plugin_id=test-plugin volume_id=test-volume error="sad create"`)
+	})
 }
 
 type fakeNode struct {
@@ -97,3 +301,29 @@ func newFakeNode() *fakeNode {
 		vols: make(VolumeMap),
 	}
 }
+
+// timeout provides a context that times out in 1 second
+func timeout(t *testing.T) context.Context {
+	t.Helper()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second)
+	t.Cleanup(cancel)
+	return ctx
+}
+
+// logRecorder is here so we can assert that stdout/stderr appear in logs
+func logRecorder(t *testing.T) (hclog.Logger, func() string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	logger := hclog.New(&hclog.LoggerOptions{
+		Name:            "log-recorder",
+		Output:          buf,
+		Level:           hclog.Debug,
+		IncludeLocation: true,
+		DisableTime:     true,
+	})
+	return logger, func() string {
+		bts, err := io.ReadAll(buf)
+		test.NoError(t, err)
+		return string(bts)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/client/hostvolumemanager/volume_fingerprint.go b/client/hostvolumemanager/volume_fingerprint.go
index 37b0c84fb..a4e171368 100644
--- a/client/hostvolumemanager/volume_fingerprint.go
+++ b/client/hostvolumemanager/volume_fingerprint.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func UpdateVolumeMap(volumes VolumeMap, name string, vol *structs.ClientHostVolu
 }
 
 // WaitForFirstFingerprint implements client.FingerprintingPluginManager
+// so any existing volumes are added to the client node on agent start.
 func (hvm *HostVolumeManager) WaitForFirstFingerprint(ctx context.Context) <-chan struct{} {
 	// the fingerprint manager puts batchFirstFingerprintsTimeout (50 seconds)
 	// on the context that it sends to us here so we don't need another
diff --git a/client/hostvolumemanager/volume_fingerprint_test.go b/client/hostvolumemanager/volume_fingerprint_test.go
index c5198eb7c..3cda6a540 100644
--- a/client/hostvolumemanager/volume_fingerprint_test.go
+++ b/client/hostvolumemanager/volume_fingerprint_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ package hostvolumemanager
 import (
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/state"
+	cstructs "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/structs"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testlog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
 	"github.com/shoenig/test/must"
 )
@@ -79,3 +82,46 @@ func TestUpdateVolumeMap(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestWaitForFirstFingerprint(t *testing.T) {
+	log := testlog.HCLogger(t)
+	tmp := t.TempDir()
+	memDB := state.NewMemDB(log)
+	node := newFakeNode()
+	hvm := NewHostVolumeManager(log, Config{
+		PluginDir:      "",
+		SharedMountDir: tmp,
+		StateMgr:       memDB,
+		UpdateNodeVols: node.updateVol,
+	})
+	plug := &fakePlugin{mountDir: tmp}
+	hvm.builtIns = map[string]HostVolumePlugin{
+		"test-plugin": plug,
+	}
+	must.NoError(t, memDB.PutDynamicHostVolume(&cstructs.HostVolumeState{
+		ID: "vol-id",
+		CreateReq: &cstructs.ClientHostVolumeCreateRequest{
+			ID:       "vol-id",
+			Name:     "vol-name",
+			PluginID: "test-plugin",
+		},
+	}))
+
+	ctx := timeout(t)
+	done := hvm.WaitForFirstFingerprint(ctx)
+	select {
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		t.Fatal("fingerprint timed out")
+	case <-done:
+	}
+
+	must.Eq(t, "vol-id", plug.created)
+	must.Eq(t, VolumeMap{
+		"vol-name": &structs.ClientHostVolumeConfig{
+			Name:     "vol-name",
+			ID:       "vol-id",
+			Path:     tmp,
+			ReadOnly: false,
+		},
+	}, node.vols)
+}
diff --git a/command/agent/config.go b/command/agent/config.go
index acfb9bc63..28a6afb67 100644
--- a/command/agent/config.go
+++ b/command/agent/config.go
@@ -230,7 +230,6 @@ type ClientConfig struct {
 	AllocMountsDir string `hcl:"alloc_mounts_dir"`
 
 	// HostVolumePluginDir directory contains dynamic host volume plugins
-	// db TODO(1.10.0): document default directory is alongside alloc_mounts
 	HostVolumePluginDir string `hcl:"host_volume_plugin_dir"`
 
 	// Servers is a list of known server addresses. These are as "host:port"
diff --git a/demo/hostvolume/_test-plugin.sh b/demo/hostvolume/_test-plugin.sh
index 864680e23..791f46787 100755
--- a/demo/hostvolume/_test-plugin.sh
+++ b/demo/hostvolume/_test-plugin.sh
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ case $op in
     export CAPACITY_MAX_BYTES=50000000 # 50mb
     export CAPACITY_MIN_BYTES=50000000 # 50mb
     export PARAMETERS='{"a": "ayy"}'
-    # db TODO(1.10.0): check stdout
     ;;
 
   delete)
diff --git a/demo/hostvolume/example-plugin-mkfs b/demo/hostvolume/example-plugin-mkfs
index 5bfaa4e47..5e92ff870 100755
--- a/demo/hostvolume/example-plugin-mkfs
+++ b/demo/hostvolume/example-plugin-mkfs
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 # Copyright (c) HashiCorp, Inc.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BUSL-1.1
 
-# db TODO(1.10.0): where does PATH come from here? somewhere implicit? /sbin/ and /bin/ and ...?
-
 set -euo pipefail
 
 version='0.0.1'