Checking the queue depth of the storage adapter and the storage device

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides the steps to identify the queue depths for the storage adapter and the storage device from the service console of the ESX host or the ESXi shell (Tech Support mode).

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Resolution

To identify the storage adapter queue depth:

1. Run the esxtop command in the service console of the ESX host or the ESXi shell (Tech Support mode).  
2. Press d.
3. Press f and select Queue Stats.
4. The value listed under AQLEN is the queue depth of the storage adapter. This is the maximum number of ESX VMKernel active commands that the adapter driver is configured to support.

To identify the storage device queue depth:

1. Run the esxtop command in the service console of the ESX host or the ESXi shell (Tech Support mode).  
2. Press u.
3. Press f and select Queue Stats.
4. The value listed under DQLEN is the queue depth of the storage device. This is the maximum number of ESX VMKernel active commands that the device is configured to support.

Notes:

• The value listed under LQLEN is the LUN queue depth. This is the maximum number of ESX/ESXi VMkernel active commands supported by the LUN.
• The value listed under %USD is the percentage of queue depth (adapter, LUN, or world) used by ESX/ESXi VMkernel active commands.

Additional Information

For more information about changing the queue depth, see below:

Changing the Queue Depth for QLogic and Emulex HBAs