A method for sharing system information data in a network of two or more analyzers for performing assays is provided. The system information data includes operating information for the analyzers in the network. The method includes: sending a system information metadata packet to at least a first analyzer in the network, wherein the system information metadata packet is associated with system information data on a second analyzer in the network and comprises one or more attributes of a system information data packet containing the associated system information data; receiving a request from the first analyzer to send the system information data packet; and in response to the request from the first analyzer to send the system information data packet, sending the system information data packet containing the associated system information data to the first analyzer.