Knowledge Base

• VMware recommends keeping the HBA Vendors uniform across all hosts participating in a cluster. If you are using a mixed environment (for example, with QLogic and Emulex), VMware recommends keeping the Queue Depth value the same across all the hosts in the cluster.
• If you are applying a host profile which includes Queue Depth settings and a host reboot is required after application, note that queue depth values can only be modified at boot time. Reboot the host and confirm that the Queue Depth values are set correctly. The capability to modify Queue Depth variables is reliant on a compatible driver, and some async drivers may not allow the Queue Depth to be set correctly.

ESXi 5.x

1. Verify which HBA module is currently loaded by entering one of these commands on the service console:
   
   
   • For QLogic:
     
     # esxcli system module list | grep qla
     
     
   • For Emulex:
     
     # esxcli system module list | grep lpfc
     
     
   • For Brocade:
     
     # esxcli system module list | grep bfa
     
     
2. Run one of these commands:
   
   Note: The examples show the QLogic qla2xxx and Emulex lpfc820 modules. Use the appropriate module based on the outcome of the previous step.
   
   
   • For QLogic:
     
     # esxcli system module parameters set -p ql2xmaxqdepth=64 -m qla2xxx
     
     
   • For Emulex:
     
     # esxcli system module parameters set -p lpfc0_lun_queue_depth=64 -m lpfc820
     
     
   • For Brocade:
     
     # esxcli system module parameters set -p bfa_lun_queue_depth=64 -m bfa
     
     
   Notes:
   
   • In these commands, both ql2xmaxqdepth and lpfc0 use the lowercase letter L, "l", and not the numeric digit 1.
   • In this case, the HBAs represented by ql2x and lpfc0 have their LUN queue depths set to 64.
   • If all Emulex cards on the host must be updated, apply the global parameter, lpfc_lun_queue_depth instead.
     
     
3. Reboot your host.
4. Run this command to confirm that your changes have been applied:
   
   # esxcli system module parameters list -m driver
   
   Where driver is your QLogic, Emulex, or Brocade adapter driver module, such as lpfc820, qla2xxx, or bfa.
   
   The output appears similar to:
   
   Name                        Type  Value  Description 
--------------------------  ----  -----  --------------------------------------------------
.....
ql2xmaxqdepth               int   64     Maximum queue depth to report for target devices.
.....
   

ESXi/ESX 4.x

1. Verify which HBA module is currently loaded by entering one of these commands on the service console:
   
   
   • For QLogic:
     
     # vmkload_mod -l | grep qla
     
     
   • For Emulex:
     
     # vmkload_mod -l | grep lpfc
     
     
   • For Brocade:
     
     # vmkload_mod -l | grep bfa
     
     
2. Run one of these commands:
   
   Note: The examples show the QLogic qla2xxx and Emulex lpfc820 modules. Use the appropriate module based on the outcome of the previous step.
   
   
   • For QLogic:
     
     # esxcfg-module -s ql2xmaxqdepth=64 qla2xxx
     
     
   • For Emulex:
     
     # esxcfg-module -s 'lpfc0_lun_queue_depth=64' lpfc820

     
   • For Brocade:
     
     # esxcfg-module -s 'bfa_lun_queue_depth=64' bfa
   
   In this case, the HBAs represented by ql2x and lpfc0 have their LUN queue depths set to 64.
   
   Note: For multiple instances of Emulex HBAs being presented to a system, use:
   
   # esxcfg-module -s 'lpfc0_lun_queue_depth=64 lpfc1_lun_queue_depth=64' lpfc820
   
   
3. Reboot your host.
4. Run this command to confirm if your changes are applied:
   
   # esxcfg-module -g driver
   
   Where driver is your QLogic, Emulex, or Brocade adapter driver module, such as lpfc820, qla2xxx, or bfa.
   

ESXi/ESX 3.5

1. Log into the service console as root.
2. Verify which QLogic HBA module is currently loaded:
   
   # vmkload_mod -l | grep qla
   
   Depending on the model of the HBA, the module can be one of these:
   
   
   • qla2300_707_vmw
   • qla4010
   • qla4022
   
   
3. Run these commands:
   
   # esxcfg-module -s ql2xmaxqdepth=64 qla2300_707_vmw
# esxcfg-boot –b
   
   The HBA represented by ql2x has its LUN queue depth set to 64.
   
   Note: The example shows the qla2300_707 module. Use the appropriate module based on the output of step 2.
   
   
4. Reboot the host.
5. Run this command to confirm your changes have been applied:
   
   # esxcfg-module -g driver
   
   Where driver is your QLogic, Emulex, or Brocade adapter driver module, such as lpfc820, qla2xxx, or bfa.
   

1. Log into the service console as root.
2. Verify which Emulex HBA module is currently loaded:
   
   # vmkload_mod -l | grep lpfc
   
   
3. For a single instance of an Emulex HBA on the system, run these commands:
   
   Note: The example shows the lpfc_740 module. Use the appropriate module based on the output of step 2.
   
   # esxcfg-module -s lpfc0_lun_queue_depth=64 lpfc_740
# esxcfg-boot –b
   
   In this case, the HBA represented by lpfc0 has its LUN queue depth set to 64.
   
   
4. For multiple instances of an Emulex HBA present on the system, run these commands:
   
   # esxcfg-module -s "lpfc0_lun_queue_depth=64 lpfc1_lun_queue_depth=64" lpfc_7xx
# esxcfg-boot –b
   
   In this case, both HBAs lpfc0 and lpfc1 have their LUN queue depths set to 64.
   
   
5. Reboot the host.
6. Run this command to confirm your changes have been applied:
   
   # esxcfg-module -g driver
   
   Where driver is your QLogic, Emulex, or Brocade adapter driver module, such as lpfc820, qla2xxx, or bfa.
   

ESX 2.x

1. In a text editor, edit the /etc/vmware/hwconfig file and locate the line for the QLogic adapter. It looks similar to:
   
   device.3.12.0.name = "QLogic Corp QLA2312/2340 (rev 02)"
   
   Make note of the string of three numbers between device and name.
   
   
2. In the /etc/vmware/hwconfig file, add one of these lines to the end of the file:
   
   
   • For ESX Server 2.0, add this line:
     
     device.vmnix.3.12.0.options = "ql2xmaxqdepth=nn"
     
     
   • For ESX Server 2.1 and later versions, add this line:
     
     device.esx.3.12.0.options = "ql2xmaxqdepth=nn"
     
     In these examples, 3.12.0 is the string of numbers obtained from the QLogic line located in the previous step, and nn is the desired queue depth maximum. Be sure to save your changes.
     
     Note: The second character in ql2xmaxqdepth is a lowercase L, "l".
     
     
3. Reboot the host.