ESXi host: esxcli and other useful commands

System related commands
uname -a

vmware -v

vmware -vl
ps -tgs | grep -i <VM-Name>
esxcli vm process list

esxcli system boot device get

esxcli system coredump partition list

esxcli system hostname get
esxcli system account list
esxcli system stats uptime get
esxcli system stats installtime get
echo $(($(esxcli system stats uptime get)/86400000000))
esxcli system hostname set --host=<Hostname without FQDN>
esxcli system hostname set --fqdn=<Rest of the FQDN>

esxcli network ip dns search add --domain=corp.company.com
esxcli system module list

esxcli system process list

esxcli system process stats load get

esxcli system process stats running get

esxcli system secpolicy domain list

esxcli system settings advanced list

esxcli system settings kernel list

esxcli system syslog config get

esxcli system syslog config logger list

esxcli system uuid get

esxcli system version get

esxcli system visorfs get

esxcli system visorfs ramdisk list

esxcli system visorfs tardisk list
esxcli device driver list

esxcli software vib list
esxcli software vib get -n <Product name >
esxcli software vib remove -n  esx-dvfilter-arpspy -n esx-dvfilter-ipv6spy -n esx-dvfilter-maclearn
esxcli software vib install --no-sig-check -v ....... 
esxcli software vib install --depot=/vmfs/volumes/datastore-whatever/patchwhatever
esxcli software vib install -d /tmp/< Product-file >
esxcfg-info
esxcfg-module --list
esxcfg-volume --list
esxcfg-advcfg --list
esxcfg-dumppart --list
vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate <VM-UUID>
vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on <VM-UUID>

vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh

vim-cmd hostsvc/start_ssh

vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_esx_shell

vim-cmd hostsvc/start_esx_shell
vsish -e get /hardware/cpu/cpuModelName
vim-cmd hostsvc/hosthardware 
vim-cmd hostsvc/hosthardware | grep CPU
esxcli system settings advanced set -i 1 -o "/UserVars/SuppressShellWarning"

esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Mem/ShareForceSalting -i 0
esxcli system maintenanceMode get
esxcli system maintenanceMode set --enable yes
esxcli system maintenanceMode set --enable no
vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter
vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.capability <VM-ID>
vim-cmd proxysvc/port_info
vim-cmd solo/querycfgoptdesc
vim-cmd hostsvc/queryconnectioninfo | grep <VM-Name> -A40 -B4
esxcli --debug --formatter=table system version get
vim-cmd vmsvc/device.getdevices <VM-ID>
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.config <VM-ID>
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.environment <VM-ID>
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.runtime <VM-ID>
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.summary <VM-ID>
esxcli system settings advanced list -d
esxcli system settings kernel list -d
esxcli system snmp get | hash | set | test
esxcli vm process kill -t soft -w <WorldID>
esxcli system shutdown reboot --delay=60 --reason="<Whatever>"
esxcli system shutdown reboot -d 60 -r "<Whatever be the reason>"
esxcli system shutdown poweroff --delay=60 --reason="<Whatever>"

/opt/hp/hpssacli/bin/hpssacli controller all show config detail

Network related commands

esxcli network nic list
esxcli network vm list
esxcli network ip interface list
esxcli network ip interface ipv4 get

esxcli network ip route ipv4 list
esxcli network ip neighbor list
esxcli network ip netstack list
esxcli network ip netstack get -N defaultTcpipStack

esxcfg-route
esxcfg-route -l

esxcfg-vswitch -l

esxcfg-vswitch -U vmnic5 vSwitch0   (Removes vmnic5)
esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic3 vSwitch0   (Adds vmnic3)
esxcfg-vmknic -l
esxcli network ip interface set -e true -i vmk1
esxcli network ip interface set -e true -i vmk2

esxcfg-nics -l
esxcfg-nas --list
esxcli storage nfs list

esxcli network ip dns search list

esxcli network ip dns server list
esxcli network ip dns server add -s <New-DNS-server>

esxcli network firewall ruleset list

esxcli network firewall ruleset rule list

esxcli network ip connection list
esxcli network ip connection list | grep 5671      Useful in checking the TCP connection between the RabbitMQ daemon and the one on the ESXi host

esxcli network ip interface ipv4 set -i vmk0/1 -I <IP-address> -N <Netmask> -P false -t static
esxcli network ip interface ipv4 set --interface-name vmk0/1 --ipv4 <IP-address> --netmask <Netmask> --type static 
esxcli network ip interface set --interface-name=vmk0/1 --mtu=9000

esxcli network vswitch standard list

esxcli network vswitch dvs vmware list

esxcli network nic get -n vmnic0
esxcli network nic stats get --nic-name=vmnic0
esxcli network nic vlan stats get --nic-name=vmnic0

/usr/lib/vmware/vm-support/bin/nicinfo.sh
esxcli network ip dns search add --domain=<dept.>.<company>.com

esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup list
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup set -p "VM Network" --vlan-id 997
esxcli network ip interface set --mtu=9000 --interface-name=vmk1/2
esxcli network ip interface tag add -i vmk1/2 -t VMotion
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup policy failover get --portgroup-name=<Portgroup>
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup policy failover set -p <IP-vmotion1/2> -a vmnic0/1 -s vmnic1/0
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover get -v vSwitch0
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup policy failover get -p "Management Network"
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover set -l iphash -v vSwitch0
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup policy failover set -p "Management Network" -l iphash
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover set -l explicit -v vSwitch0
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover set -l portid -v vSwitch0
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover set -l mac -v vSwitch0
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover set -v vSwitch0 --active-uplinks vmnic0,vmnic3
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover set -v vSwitch0 --active-uplinks vmnic0 --standby-uplinks vmnic3
esxcli network vm list
esxcli network ip ipsec sa list

esxcli network ip set --ipv6-enabled=false

esxcli network ip interface ipv6 set -i vmk0 -d false -r false

esxcli network nic stats get –n vmnic0
vsish -e get /net/pNics/vmnic0/stats                  or vmnic1, vmnic2 or vmnic3
esxcli network nic list | grep Up | cut -d " " -f 1 | xargs -n 1 esxcli network nic stats get -n

tcpdump-uw –i vmk0
tcpdump-uw -i vmk0 icmp

tcpdump-uw –i vmk0 –s 1514 tcp

tcpdump-uw –i vmk0 –s 1514 port not 22 and port not 53

tcpdump-uw -i vmk0 icmp -XX
tcpdump-uw -i vmk0 not port 22 -vvv
pktcap-uw –-vmk vmk0

pktcap-uw –-uplink vmnic0
pktcap-uw --vmk vmk0 --proto 0x01
pktcap-uw --vmk vmk0 --proto 0x01 --capture PortOutput
pktcap-uw --vmk vmk0 --ip 216.239.35.4
pktcap-uw --vmk vmk0 --ip 216.239.35.4 --capture PortOutput
pktcap-uw --vmk vmk0 --tcpport 443
pktcap-uw --switchport <SwitchPortNumber>
pktcap-uw --switchport <SwitchPortNumber> --capture PortOutput
pktcap-uw --capture Drop
net-stats –l

esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover get --vswitch-name=<vSwitch>
ethtool -S vmnic2 | egrep -i 'error|drop'                    For RX error
ethtool -S vmnic0 | grep rx_crc_error
esxcli network nic tso get
esxcli network nic coalesce get
vsish -e get /net/tcpip/instances/defaultTcpipStack/sysctl/_net_inet_tcp_delayed_ack
vmdumper -l
esxcli network ip interface ipv4 set -i vmk0 -I 10.133.72.43 -N 255.255.254.0 --type static

esxcfg-route

esxcfg-route -l

esxcfg-route -a 10.133.72.0/23 10.133.72.1

esxcfg-route -d 10.133.96.0/23 10.133.96.1

esxcli network ip route ipv4 add --gateway 10.133.72.1 --network 10.133.72.0/23

esxcli network ip route ipv4 list

esxcli network ip route ipv4 remove --gateway 10.133.96.1 --network 10.133.96.0/23

esxcli network ip route ipv4 remove -n 10.133.96.0/23 -g 10.133.96.1

esxcfg-route -l
esxcli software vib get -n net-e1000e
esxcli software vib get -n net-ixgbe
esxcli network vm list
esxcli network vm port list --world-id=<World-ID>
esxcli network port filter stats get --portid=<Port-ID> 
esxcli network diag ping --ipv4 --host=<Host-IP> --size=9000
vim-cmd hostsvc/net/query_networkhint --pnic-name=vmnic2
vim-cmd hostsvc/net/query_networkhint --pnic-name=vmnic2 |  egrep "location|mgmtAddr|softwareVersion|systemName|hardware|vlan|portId|port|ipSubnet"
vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms    (for VM IDs)
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.networks <VM-ID>
esxcli network switch standard policy shaping get -v vSwitch0
esxcli network switch standard policy security get -v vSwitch0
esxcli network switch standard policy failover get -v vSwitch0

esxcli network vswitch dvs vmware lacp config get

esxcli network vswitch dvs vmware lacp status get

esxcli network vswitch dvs vmware lacp stats get

esxcli network nic ring preset get -n vmnic0/1/2/3/4/5

esxcli network nic down -n vmnic2

esxcli network nic up -n vmnic2

esxcli system module get --module=ixgbe

esxcli system module get --module=ixgben

Storage related commands

esxcli storage nmp device list
esxcli storage vmfs snapshot list
esxcli storage nmp satp list
esxcli storage nmp psp list

esxcli storage core device list

esxcli storage core path list

esxcli storage nfs list
esxcli storage nfs add -H <NFS-Storage-IP> | <NFS-hostname> -s <Share-mount-point-on-the-NFS-storage> -v <Datastore-name>
esxcli storage nfs remove -v <Datastore-name>
esxcfg-nas --list
esxcli storage core adapter list | grep fc | awk ‘{print $4}’
esxcli storage core device partition list
esxcli storage core device stats get
esxcli storage core path stats get

esxcli storage vmfs extent list
esxcli storage vmfs unmap -l <Datastore-LUN>

esxcli storage filesystem list

esxcli storage san fc list

esxcli storage san fc events get
esxcli storage san iscsi list
esxcli storage san sas list
esxcli storage core device world list

esxcfg-scsidevs –l

esxcfg-scsidevs –m
ls -altr /vmfs/devices/disks

esxcfg-mpath –b

esxcfg-mpath --list
esxcli storage core device vaai status get
esxcli storage nmp satp set --default-psp VMW_PSP_RR --satp <youre_satp_policy>
esxcli storage core claimrule list -c all
esxcli storage core adapter rescan --all
esxcli storage core adapter rescan --adapter vmhba4
vim-cmd vmsvc/get.datastores <VM-ID>

vdq -iH

vdq -qH

esxcli vsan cluster unicastagent list

esxcli vsan cluster get
vim-cmd hostsvc/storage/diagnostic/query_available
vim-cmd hostsvc/queryconnectioninfo | grep DataStoreInfo -A20
vim-cmd hostsvc/datastore/listsummary esxcli iscsi adapter list
esxcli iscsi adapter auth chap get --adapter=vmhba64
esxcli iscsi adapter capabilities get --adapter=vmhba64
esxcli iscsi adapter discovery sendtarget list
esxcli iscsi adapter param get --adapter=vmhba64
esxcli iscsi logicalnetworkportal list
esxcli iscsi physicalnetworkportal list
esxcli iscsi plugin list 

voma -m vmfs -f check -d /vmfs/devices/disks

Hardware related commands
lspci
lspci | grep Network
esxcli network nic list
esxcfg-nics -l

esxcli hardware cpu list

esxcli hardware memory get

esxcli hardware pci list

esxcli hardware platform get
esxcfg-dumppart --list
vsish -e get /hardware/cpu/cpuModelName
vim-cmd hostsvc/hosthardware 
vim-cmd hostsvc/queryconnectioninfo | grep memorySize -A8
vim-cmd hostsvc/hosthardware | grep CPU

esxcli iscsi adapter list

esxcli storage core adapter list

esxcli storage san fc list

esxcli storage san fc events get

esxcfg-scsidevs --list
esxcfg-scsidevs --vmfs
esxcfg-mpath --list-map
esxcfg-mpath --list-paths
esxcli fcoe adapter list
esxcli fcoe nic list
esxcli hardware usb passthrough device list
esxcli hardware ipmi sel list
esxcli hardware ipmi sdr list
esxcli hardware ipmi fru list
esxcli hardware smartcard info get
esxcli hardware smartcard slot list
smbiosDump | grep -B 13 "Memory" | egrep "Location|Manufacturer|Serial|Part|Size|Speed"

VAAI related commands
To check on the VAAI Plugin install:
esxcli software vib list | grep -i vaai
esxcli software vib get -n <Product name>

To install:
esxcli software vib install -d /tmp/<Product name>

To view whether VAAI is enabled or disabled, run the following commands.  If the value that is returned is 0, VAAI is disabled.   If the value returned is 1, VAAI is enabled.

esxcfg-advcfg -g /DataMover/HardwareAcceleratedMove
esxcfg-advcfg -g /DataMover/HardwareAcceleratedInit
esxcfg-advcfg -g /VMFS3/HardwareAcceleratedLocking

To enable VAAI for a dedicated primitive, use the option -s 1:

esxcfg-advcfg -s 1 /DataMover/HardwareAcceleratedMove
esxcfg-advcfg -s 1 /DataMover/HardwareAcceleratedInit
esxcfg-advcfg -s 1 /VMFS3/HardwareAcceleratedLocking

To disable VAAI for a dedicated primitive, use the option -s 1:

esxcfg-advcfg -s 0 /DataMover/HardwareAcceleratedMove
esxcfg-advcfg -s 0 /DataMover/HardwareAcceleratedInit
esxcfg-advcfg -s 0 /VMFS3/HardwareAcceleratedLocking

Use this command to check on the VAAI status:
esxcli storage core device vaai status get

Troubleshooting possibilities
esxcli network ip connection list
esxcli network ip neighbor list
tcpdump-uw -c 5 -n -i vmk0 host <IP-address> and port 443
esxcli network diag ping -s 9000 -H <IP-address>
traceroute <IP-address>


Commonly used Networking commands

vmware -vl

esxcli network ip interface list

esxcli network nic list

esxcli network vm list

esxcli network ip interface ipv4 get

esxcli network ip route ipv4 list

esxcli network ip neighbor list

esxcli network ip neighbor list -i vmk3

esxcli network ip connection list

esxcli network vswitch standard list

esxcli network vswitch dvs vmware list

esxcli network nic get -n vmnic0

esxcli network nic get -n vmnic1

esxcli network nic get -n vmnic2

esxcli network nic get -n vmnic3

esxcli network nic stats get --nic-name=vmnic0

esxcli network nic vlan stats get --nic-name=vmnic0

esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup list

esxcli network ip ipsec sa list

net-stats -l

tcpdump-uw -i vmk0

pktcap-uw --vmk vmk0

pktcap-uw --uplink vmnic0

cat /var/log/shell.log          for showing History of commands

ethtool -S vmnic0

lspci | grep -i network