NVMe-CLI is a command-line utility for managing NVM Express storage devices on Linux. It provides access to the administrative and I/O commands defined by the NVMe specifications, allowing users to examine, configure and troubleshoot compatible storage hardware.
The software works with locally attached NVMe SSDs and NVMe over Fabrics devices. Built on the libnvme library, it exposes detailed information about controllers, namespaces, firmware, capabilities and health statistics.
NVMe-CLI is particularly useful for system administrators, hardware testers and developers who need access to functionality beyond that offered by graphical disk utilities. Some commands are informational, while others modify device settings or erase data and should be used with care.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Device discovery – list NVMe controllers and namespaces, including their identifying information and storage capacities.
- Health monitoring – retrieve SMART information, temperatures, endurance indicators, media errors and other health statistics.
- Self-testing – initiate and examine supported device self-tests.
- Controller information – inspect capabilities, firmware revisions, supported features and controller registers.
- Namespace management – create, delete, attach and detach namespaces on compatible hardware.
- Firmware management – download firmware images and initiate activation operations.
- Log retrieval – inspect error logs, persistent event logs and other device-specific information.
- NVMe over Fabrics – discover, connect to and manage remote NVMe subsystems over supported network transports.
- Authentication – manage supported authentication secrets and transport security keys.
- Vendor extensions – access additional functionality through manufacturer-specific plugins.
- Data management – issue supported format, sanitisation and other administrative commands.
- Structured output – provide machine-readable information for automation and monitoring workflows.
Website: github.com/linux-nvme/nvme-cli
Support:
Developer: NVM Express
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
nvme-cli is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Handy Hard Disk Utilities | |
|---|---|
| NVMe-CLI | NVM-Express user space tooling |
| Smartmontools | Control and monitor storage systems using S.M.A.R.T. |
| scrutiny | WebUI for smartd S.M.A.R.T monitoring |
| openSeaChest | Perform various operations on SATA, SAS, NVMe, and USB storage devices |
| GSmartControl | Graphical user interface for smartctl |
| hdparm | Tune hard disk parameters for high performance |
| sg3_utils | Utilities that send SCSI commands to devices |
| sdparm | Accesses SCSI device parameters |
| nwipe | Secure disk eraser |
| Bonnie++ | Toolkit for testing hard drive and file system performance |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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