View source for VMware/vSphere/NVMe

== Support ==

"According to hardware support there is one feature that will become more and more important in the future: the NVMe driver that ESXi 6.0 includes out-of-the-box. NVMe ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NVM_Express NVM Express]) is a new standard for attaching SSD storage directly to the computer's PCIe bus (instead of through a SATA AHCI interface). This allows for new (much smaller) form factors and much improved performance for SSDs. Patrick Schulz over at vtricks.com has a nice [http://vtricks.com/?p=2018 detailed write-up about NVMe], and he also points out that an NVMe driver is already [https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?productId=351&downloadGroup=DT-ESXI55-VMWARE-NVME-10E030-1VMW available for ESXi 5.5], but needs to be installed separately there." [http://www.v-front.de/2015/02/whats-in-esxi-60-for-free-license-and.html]

== Intel NVMe Controller ==

PCIe: (found vmhba2 from esxcfg-scsidevs)
<pre>
~ lspci  | grep -i vmhba2
0000:04:00.0 Mass storage controller:   [vmhba2]

~ lspci -n | grep -i vmhba2
0000:04:00.0 Class 0108: 8086:0953 [vmhba2]

~ lspci -p | grep -i vmhba2
0000:04:00.0 8086:0953 8086:3709   5/  5/0x32 A V nvme         vmhba2
</pre>

PCI Database: [https://pci-ids.ucw.cz/read/PC/8086/0953]
 PCIe Data Center SSD
 8086 3709	DC P3600 SSD [Add-in Card]

HBAs:
<pre>
~ esxcfg-scsidevs -a

vmhba2  nvme              link-n/a  pscsi.vmhba2                            (0000:04:00.0) Intel Corporation <class> Non-Volatile memory controller
</pre>

HBA to Device:
<pre>
~ esxcfg-scsidevs -A
vmhba2      t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001
</pre>

Compact List:
<pre>
esxcfg-scsidevs -c

Device UID                                                                        Device Type      Console Device                                                                                       ...>
t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001  Direct-Access    /vmfs/devices/disks/t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001 ...>

...> Size      Multipath PluginDisplay Name
...> 381554MB  NMP     Local NVMe Disk (t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001)
</pre>

Logical Device List:
<pre>
~ esxcfg-scsidevs -l

t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001
   Device Type: Direct-Access
   Size: 381554 MB
   Display Name: Local NVMe Disk (t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001)
   Multipath Plugin: NMP
   Console Device: /vmfs/devices/disks/t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001
   Devfs Path: /vmfs/devices/disks/t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001
   Vendor: NVMe      Model: INTEL SSDPEDME40  Revis: 8DV1
   SCSI Level: 6  Is Pseudo: false Status: on
   Is RDM Capable: false Is Removable: false
   Is Local: true  Is SSD: true
   Other Names:
      vml.010000000043564d44353036363030305534303041474e2020494e54454c20
   VAAI Status: unknown
</pre>

VMFS:
<pre>
~ esxcfg-scsidevs -m

t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001:1 /vmfs/devices/disks/t10.NVMe____INTEL_SSDPEDME400G4_____________________CVMD5066000U400AGN__00000001:1 \
  55a6bc06-5f122357-8b98-ac162d89fc50  0  ds-nvme
</pre>

Note: Reported from an ESXi 6.0 system.

Intel® SSD DC Family for PCIe* - http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/intel-ssd-dc-family-for-pcie.html

Device:
* Intel Solid-State Drive DC P3600 Series - solid state drive - 400 GB - PCI - SSDPEDME400G401 - Solid State Drives (SSDs)
* Mfg. Part: SSDPEDME400G401 | CDW Part: 3416158 | UNSPSC: 43201830
* CDW.com - https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Intel-Solid-State-Drive-DC-P3600-Series-solid-state-drive-400-GB-PCI/3416158.aspx
* ~ $660
* Solid state drive
* 400 GB
* internal
* PCI Express 3.0 x4 (NVMe)