Reference to Replacements for Service Console Commands

Replacements for Service Console Commands lists common ESX/ESXi 4.x service console commands and corresponding ESXi 5.0 and later shell commands.

Important This document does not present a complete list of ESXCLI commands. The focus is on replacing existing service console commands. See the vSphere Command-Line Interface Reference for a complete list of commands.

The links in the Command column of the table point to more detailed information for each command, with corresponding ESXCLI commands for each option where available. Click the link in the More Information column for a table with detailed information about that command.

Replacements for Service Console Commands 

Service Console Command	Replacement (ESXi 5.0 and later)	More Information	Deprecated ESXi Shell
esxcli	esxcli 4.x service console commands used a different syntax than esxcli 5.0 and later.	ESXCLI Command Syntax	No
esxcfg-advcfg	esxcli system settings advanced	esxcfg-advcfg	Yes
esxcfg-dumppart	esxcli system coredump	esxcfg-dumppart	Yes
esxcfg-firewall	In ESX 4.x, protects the service console. In ESXi 5.x, esxcfg-firewall is not necessary because no service console exists. The esxcli network firewall command is available for ESXi firewall management.	vSphere Security documentation.	N.A.
esxcfg-info	Provides a view of the internal state of the VMkernel and service console components. Some of the functionality is covered by certain ESXCLI commands.	esxcfg-info	No
esxcfg-ipsec	esxcli network ip ipsec	esxcfg-ipsec	No
esxcfg-swiscsi esxcfg-hwiscsi	esxcli iscsi	esxcfg-swiscsi and esxcfg-hwiscsi	Yes
esxcfg-module	esxcli system module	esxcfg-module	Yes
esxcfg-mpath	esxcli storage core path commands.	esxcfg-mpath	Yes
esxcfg-nas	esxcli storage nfs	esxcfg-nas	Yes
esxcfg-nics	esxcli network nic	esxcfg-nics	Yes
esxcfg-rescan	esxcli storage core commands.	esxcfg-rescan	Yes
esxcfg-route	esxcli network ip route commands	esxcfg-route	Yes
esxcfg-scsidevs	Use esxcli storage core and esxcli storage core filesystem commands.	esxcfg-scsidevs	Yes
esxcfg-vmknic	esxcli network ip interface covers most options and includes a number of options not available in the esxcfg-vmknic command.	esxcfg-vmknic	Yes
esxcfg-volume	esxcli storage filesystem	esxcfg-volume	Yes
esxcfg-vswif	Used to configure service console networking in 4.x systems. Not needed and not available in the ESXi 5.0 and later ESXi Shell.		Yes
esxcfg-vswitch	esxcli network vswitch standard for standard switches. esxcli network vswitch dvs for distributed switches.	esxcfg-vswitch	Yes
esxtop	Supported in the ESXi 5.0 and later ESXi Shell. If you do not have access to the ESXi Shell, use the resxtop remote vCLI command from a supported Linux system or from vMA.	esxtop	No
esxupdate	esxcli software vib Note: Both esxupdate and vihostupdate are not supported against ESXi 5.0 and later.	esxupdate	Yes
vmkfstools	The vmkfstools command is available in the ESXi 5.0 and later ESXi Shell. The vmkfstools vCLI command options differ slightly from the shell command options.	vmkfstools	No
vmkping	esxcli network diag ping.	vSphere Command-Line Interface Reference.	Yes
vmware-cmd	Not available in ESXi Shell. Available in vCLI. In many cases, VMware PowerCLI cmdlets perform the same tasks as vmware-cmd.	Use vmware-cmd --help for information.	Yes
vm-support	Creates a tar archive containing debugging information for the server. This command is intended for use with VMware Support. No equivalent vCLI command exists.	Use vm-support --help for more information.	No

ESXCLI Command Syntax

In ESXi 4.x, all ESXCLI commands must follow the same syntax.

esxcli <conn_options> <namespace> <app> <cmd> [cmd_options]

In ESXi 5.0 and later, the ESXCLI command syntax is more flexible. Each command can use an arbitrary number of namespaces. Different commands have a different number of elements.

esxcli <conn_options> <namespace> [namespace, ...] <cmd> [cmd_options]

Important You must update all ESXCLI commands explicitly; no scripts are available for the task. Starting with vSphere 5.0, most management commands are ESXCLI commands.

Updates to ESXCLI 4.x Commands

The following table lists equivalent commands for esxcli corestorage commands.

Table 5. esxcli 4.x corestorage namespace 

ESXCLI in ESXi 4.x	ESXCLI in ESXi 5.0 and later
corestorage claiming reclaim --<option>   corestorage claiming unclaim --<option>	storage core claiming reclaim --<option>   storage core claiming unclaim --<option>
corestorage claimrule add --<options>	storage core claimrule add --<options> Several new options for this command are available. See the vSphere Command-Line Interface Reference, or run the command with --help.
corestorage claimrule convert --commit	storage core claimrule convert --commit
corestorage claimrule delete --<option>	storage core claimrule remove --<option>
corestorage claimrule list --claimrule	storage core claimrule list --claimrule-class
corestorage claimrule load --claimrule-class	storage core claimrule load --claimrule-class
corestorage claimrule move --<option>	storage core claimrule move --<option>
corestorage claimrule run --<option>	storage core claimrule run --<option>
corestorage device list --device	storage core device stats get storage core device list --device Other list commands are included in this namespace.
corestorage plugin list --plugin-class	storage core plugin list --plugin-class

The following table lists equivalent commands for esxcli storage nmp commands.

Table 6. esxcli nmp namespace 

esxcli storage nmp commands in ESXi 4.x

esxcli storage nmp commands in ESXi 5.0 and later

nmp device list --list nmp device list --device   nmp device setpolicy <option>   nmp path list [--device|--path]   nmp fixed getpreferred <option>   nmp psp list nmp psp getconfig [--device|--path]   nmp psp setconfig [--config|--device|--path]   nmp roundrobin getconfig <option>   nmp roundrobin setconfig <option>   nmp satp list   nmp satp listrules   nmp satp addrule <option>   nmp satp deleterule <option>   nmp satp getconfig --device nmp satp getconfig --path   nmp satp setconfig --config --device nmp satp setconfig --config --path   nmp satp setdefaultpsp [--boot | --psp | --satp]

nmp device list nmp device list --device   nmp device set <option>   nmp psp generic deviceconfig get --device   nmp psp fixed deviceconfig set <option>   nmp psp generic deviceconfig get [--device]     nmp psp generic deviceconfig set [--config|--path]   nmp psp roundrobin deviceconfig get <option>   nmp psp roundrobin deviceconfig set <option>   nmp satp list   nmp satp rule list   nmp satp rule add <option>   nmp satp rule remove <option>   nmp satp generic deviceconfig get --device nmp satp generic pathconfig get --path   nmp psp generic deviceconfig set nmp psp generic pathconfig set   nmp satp set [--boot | --psp | --satp]

The esxcli network commands included in ESXCLI 4.1 have been renamed. Many additional networking commands are available in ESXCLI 5.0 and later.

esxcli network namespace 

esxcli 4.x	esxcli 5.0 and later	Comment
network neighbors list	network ip neighbor list	List ARP table entries.
network connection list	network ip connection list	List active TCP/IP connections.

The esxcli swiscsi namespace supports a few management commands for software iSCSI in ESXi 4.1. The commands have been renamed. ESXCLI equivalents have also been added for the esxcfg-swiscsi and esxcfg-hwiscsi commands.

esxcli swiscsi namespace 

ESXCLI 4.x	esxcli 5.x	Comment
swiscsi nic [--add | --list | --remove]	iscsi networkportal [add | list | remove]	Perform operations on the iSCSI network portal (iSCSI VMkernel NIC).
swiscsi vmknic --list	iscsi logicalnetworkportal list	Perform operations on the iSCSI logical network portal.
swiscsi vmnic --list	iscsi physicalnetworkportal list	Perform operations on the iSCSI physical network portal (uplink).
swiscsi session [--add | --list | --remove]	iscsi session [add | list | remove]	Perform operations on iSCSI sessions. Note: The add and remove commands are intended only for use by VMware partners. Use the iscsi session connection namespace to perform operations on the iSCSI connection.

The ESXi 4.1 esxcli vms namespace allows you to list virtual machines and forcibly stop them. The namespace has been renamed.

esxcli 4.x	esxcli 5.0 and later	Comment
vms vm kill	vm process kill	Forcibly kill virtual machines that are not responding to normal stop operations. Requires the type of kill operation (soft, hard, force) and the world ID of the virtual machine to kill.
vms vm list	vm process list	Display the world ID of virtual machines on the host.

esxcfg-advcfg

Instead of esxcfg-advcfg, use esxcli system settings advanced. The following commands are supported.

esxcfg-advcfg Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-advcfg option	ESXCLI Command	Description
-g|--get	system settings advanced list -o=<option>	Get the value of the VMkernel advanced configuration option. Us --option to retrieve information for a single option, or --tree to limit the list to a specific subtree.
-s|--set <value>	system settings advanced set	Set the value of the VMkernel advanced configuration option.
-d|--default	system settings advanced set -d|--default	Reset a VMkernel advanced configuration option to default.
-l|--list	system settings advanced list	List all VMkernel advanced configuration options.
-q|--quiet	No longer supported
-k|--set-kernel	system settings kernel set	Set a VMkernel load time option value for the next boot.
-j|--get-kernel	system settings kernel list	Get a VMkernel load time option value for the next boot.
-c|--get-config	Not supported
-m|--set-message	system welcomemsg set	Set the welcome message for the direct console. You can retrieve the message with system welcomemsg get.
-u|--uuid	system uuid get	Ensure the VMkernel system UUID is set and print it.
-G|--get-user-var	system settings advanced list | grep <var>	Get the value of a user-specified generic value.
-S|--set-user-var	system settings advanced set	Set the value of a user-specified generic value.
-D|--del-user-var	Adding or deleting user variables is no longer supported.
-U|--user-var	--option=<str>	Name of the user variable to use for when retrieving and setting user variables.
-A|--add-option <name>	No longer supported. This option was used to add CIM options. Use the CIM SDK instead.
-T|--add-type	Adding or deleting user variables is no longer supported.
-E|--add-desc	Adding or deleting user variables is no longer supported.
-F|--add-default	Adding or deleting user variables is no longer supported.
-N|--add-min	Adding or deleting user variables is no longer supported.
-M|--add-max	Adding or deleting user variables is no longer supported.
-H|--add-hidden <val>	Adding or deleting user variables is no longer supported.
-L|--del-option <name>	No longer supported. This option was used to add CIM options. Use the CIM SDK instead.
-V|--has-option <name>	Use esxcli system settings advanced list to list all options instead.	The ESXCLI command lists the value of the VMkernel advanced configuration options. The output includes the current setting for each option.
-r|--restore	No longer available. Internal use only in previous versions.

esxcfg-dumppart

When using the ESXi Shell, you can configure your system to save core dumps to a local partition or to use the ESXi Dump Collector and save core dumps to a prespecified local or remote partition.

■	Use esxcli coredump partition commands to configure a local dump partition.

■	Install ESXi Dump Collector to support sending core dumps to a remote host and run esxcli coredump network commands to configure the remote dump partition.

Important You can no longer use esxcfg-dumppart to enable core dumps. Use ESXCLI instead.

The following table lists the esxcfg-dumppart command options and corresponding ESXCLI commands.

Table 10. esxcfg-dumppart Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-dumppart Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
-l | --list	system coredump partition list	List all partitions on the ESXi system that have the appropriate partition type to act as a diagnostic partition. Important: Execution might take several minutes and slow down your ESXi host because the command scans all LUNs on the system.
-t | --get-active	system coredump partition get	Display the active diagnostic partition for this system. Running the ESXCLI command returns the active configured partition. If an active partition exists, the command returns the naa number of the LUN and the corresponding partition, in the format naa.xx...:p.
-c | --get-config	system coredump partition get	Get the configured diagnostic partition for the system.
-S | --smart-activate	system coredump partition set --smart --enable=true	Run the smart activate algorithm to activate the configured dump partition, or if no partition is configured, select the best possible candidate based on the media of the available dump partitions.
-a | --activate	system coredump partition set --enable=true	Make the specified partition the current diagnostic partition.
-d | --deactivate	system coredump partition set --enable=false	Deactivate the active diagnostic partition or deactivate ESXi Dump Collector. CAUTION: If you run this command, your system cannot write errors to a file until another partition is activated. You lose any error record if errors occur.
-s <naa.xx:1> | --set <naa.xxxxxxxx:1>	system coredump partition set --partition xxx.xxx	Set and activate the diagnostic partition. Specify the partition using naa.xxx:1 or eui.xxx syntax.
-C | --copy [-n | --newonly] [-z | --zdumpname] [-o | --slot]	No corresponding ESXCLI command.
-L --log	No corresponding ESXCLI command.

esxcfg-info

No comprehensive set of equivalent ESXCLI commands corresponding to esxcfg-info is available yet. The following commands are offering some of the esxcfg-info capability.

ESXCLI Information Retrieval Commands 

Command	Description
hardware bootdevice list	List the boot device order for this host, if available.
hardware clock get	Display the current hardware clock time.
hardware cpu cpuid get	Get information from the CPUID instruction on each CPU on this host.
harware cpu cpuid get --cpu=<n>	Get information from the CPUID instruction on CPU number <n>.
hardware cpu global get	List information and configuration global to all CPUs.
hardware cpu list	List all CPUs on this host.
hardware memory get	Get information about memory.
hardware pci list	List all the PCI devices on this host.
hardware platform get	Get information about the platform.
network vswitch standard list	List the virtual switches on the ESXi host.
network vswitch standard policy shaping get	Retrieve the network shaping information for the virtual switch.
network vswitch standard policy failover get	Retrieve the failover policy information for the virtual switch.
network vswitch standard policy security get	Retrieve the security policy information for the virtual switch.
network vswitch standard portgroup policy shaping get	Retrieve the network shaping information for the port group.
network vswitch standard portgroup policy failover get	Retrieve the failover policy information for the port group.
network vswitch standard portgroup policy security get	Retrieve the security policy information for the port group.
network nic list	List the physical NICs currently installed and loaded on the system.
network ip interface list	List the VMkernel network interfaces currently known to the system.
network ip dns server list	Print a list of the DNS server currently configured on the system in the order in which they will be used.

esxcfg-ipsec

In vSphere 5.1 and later, you can use commands in the esxcli network ip ipsec namespace in place of the esxcfg-ipsec command.

esxcfg-ipsec Replacement Commands

vicfg-ipsec Option	esxcli Command or Option
--action [none|discard|ipsec]	network ip ipsec sp add --action
--add-sa <sa>	network ip ipsec sa add
--add-sp <sp>	network ip ipsec sp add
--dir [in | out]	network ip ipsec sp add --flowdirection
--dst-port <port>	network ip ipsec sp add --destinationport
--flush-sa	network ip ipsec sp remove --removeall
--flush-sp	network ip ipsec sa remove --removeall
--ealgo [null | 3des-cbc | aes128-cbc]	network ip ipsec sa add --encryptionalgorithm
--ekey <e_key>	network ip ipsec sa add --encryptionkey
--ialgo [hmac-sha1 | hmac-sha2-256]	network ip ipsec sa add --integrityalgorithm
--ikey <i_key>	network ip ipsec sa add --integritykey
--list-sa <sa>	network ip ipsec sa list
--list-sp <sp>	network ip ipsec sp list
--remove-sa <sa>	network ip ipsec sa remove
--remove-sp <sp>	network ip ipsec sp remove
--sa-dst <destination>	network ip ipsec sa add --sadestination network ip ipsec sa remove --sadestination
--sa-src <IP>	network ip ipsec sa add --sasource network ip ipsec sa remove --sasource
--sa-name <name>	network ip ipsec sa add --saname network ip ipsec sa remove --saname
--sp-dst <destination>	network ip ipsec sp add --spdestination
--spi <spi>	network ip ipsec sa add --saspi network ip ipsec sa remove --saspi
--sp-src <source>	network ip ipsec sp add --spsource
--spmode <mode>	network ip ipsec sp add --spmode
--src-port <port>	network ip ipsec sp add --sourceport
--ulproto [any | tcp | udp | icmp6]	network ip ipsec sp add --sourceport --upperlayerprotocol

esxcfg-swiscsi and esxcfg-hwiscsi

The ESX 4.x service console includes two commands for iSCSI management.

The esxcfg-swiscsi command manages software iSCSI. Equivalent ESXCLI commands are available in vSphere 5.0 and later.

Table 13. esxcfg-swiscsi Replacement Commands

esxcfg-swiscsi Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
-e --enable	iscsi software set --enabled=true	Enable Software iSCSI on the system, if disabled.
-D --disable	iscsi software set --enabled=false	Disable Software iSCSI on the system, if enabled.
-q --query	iscsi software get	Check if Software iSCSI is enabled or disabled on the system.
-s --scan	iscsi adapter discovery rediscover -A <adapter_name> storage core adapter rescan [-A <adapter_name> | -all]	Scan the system for disks available through Software iSCSI interface. Call the two commands in order.
-k --kill	Not supported
-r --restore	Not supported

The esxcfg-hwiscsi command managed hardware iSCSI.

Table 14. esxcfg-hwiscsi Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-hwiscsi Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
-l	iscsi physicalnetworkportal param get	List current configuration
-a [allow | deny] <vmkernel_SCSI_adapter>	1. Find the adapter. iscsi adapter list 2. Get ARP redirection information. iscsi physicalnetworkportal param get -A vmhba4 3. Enable ARP redirect. iscsi physicalnetworkportal param set --option       ArpRedirect=true -A vmhba4	Allow or deny ARP redirection on the adapter.
-j [enable | disable] <vmkernel_SCSI_adapter>	1. Find the adapter. iscsi adapter list 2. Get jumbo frame information. iscsi physicalnetworkportal param get -A vmhba4 3, Set MTU to 9000 to enable jumbo frames. set the mtu to 9000 to enable jumbo frames. esxcli iscsi physicalnetworkportal param set -o=MTU -v=9000 -A vmhbaXX You can later set MTU back to 1500 to disable jumbo frames. esxcli iscsi physicalnetworkportal param set -o=MTU -v=1500 -A vmhbaXX	Enable or disable jumbo frame support.

esxcfg-route

The esxcfg-route command has equivalent ESXCLI commands. The new command set has enhanced functionality.

Table 15. esxcfg-rout Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-route Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
add	network ip route ipv4 add network ip route ipv6 add	Adds an IPv4 or IPv6 route. You specify the gateway and the network.
del	network ip route ipv4 remove network ip route ipv6 remove	Remove an IPv4 or IPv6 route. You specify the gateway and the network.
list	network ip route ipv4 list network ip route ipv6 list	Lists configured IPv4 or IPv6 routs
--family		Included in the command as a namespace.

esxcfg-scsidevs

The esxcfg-scsidevs command has equivalent ESXCLI commands for some of the options.

Table 16. esxcfg-scsidevs Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-scsidevs Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
-a |--hbas	storage core adapter list	Print the mappings for each SCSI host bus adapter (HBA) to the information about that adapter.
-l | --list	storage core device list	List all the storage devices known to the system, including both SCSI and non-SCSI devices. The list can be filtered using the --device option to limit the output to specific device.
-c -u	storage core device list	List all the device unique identifiers. Include the mapping from primary identifier to all secondary identifiers. The list can be filtered using the --device option to limit the output to specific device.
-m -f	storage filesystem list	Print the mappings from a VMFS volume to the device and partitions used in that VMFS.

ESXCLI does not have equivalent options for the --device, --vfat, and --hba-device-list filtering options.

The -o|--offline-cos-dev and -n|--online-cos-dev options are service console specific options and not applicable to ESXi 5.0 and later.

esxcfg-module

The esxcfg-module command supports manipulation of the VMkernel loadable modules and device drivers.For the following esxcfg-module options, ESXCLI commands are available.

esxcfg-module Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-module Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
- -get-options <module_name> -g <module_name>	system module parameters list	Returns the option string configured to be passed to the module when the module is loaded.
- -set-options <options> <module_name> -s <options> <module_name>	system module parameters set	Specifies the option string to be passed to the module when the module is loaded.
-e --enable	system module set --enabled=true	Enable the given module, indicating that it should load at boot time.
-d --disable	system module set --enabled=false	Disable the given module and prevent it from loading at boot. Disabling the module has no immediate effect on the module state on a running system.
-q --query	system module list --enabled=[true|false]	Query the system for the modules to load at boot.
-m --mod-name -<name>	Not supported.
-u --unload	Not supported.
- -list -l	system module list --loaded=[true|false]	List the set of currently loaded VMkernel modules.
-i --show-info	system module get system module parameters list	Show information about the module. This command can be run against a module file.
-f --force	system module <cmd> --force	Skip module validation for all options. The get and list commands do not support --force.
-v --verbose -<level>	Not supported	Display more verbose information.

esxcfg-mpath

The esxcfg-mpath command supports listing information about Fibre Channel or iSCSI LUNs and changing a path’s state. In vSphere 5.0 and later, equivalent ESXCLI commands are available.

esxcfg-mpath Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-mpath Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
-l --list <path> | <device>	storage core path list storage core device list	List detailed information for all paths on the system or for the specified path or device.
-L --list-compact	Not supported
-m --list-map	storage core device list	For devices currently registered with the PSA, list the filters attached to them. (Not an exact equivalent)
-b --list-paths	storage core path list	List all devices with their corresponding paths, or list paths for the specified device.
-G --list-plugins	storage core plugin list	List all multipathing plugins loaded into the system. At a minimum, this command returns NMP (Native Multipathing Plugin). If other multipathing plugins have been loaded, they are listed as well.
-s --state	storage core path setstate --path=<path> --state=[active|off]	Set the state of a given LUN path to either active or off. This option requires that the --path option is set and specifies either the path UID or the path runtime name. If you are changing a path’s state, the change operation fails if I/O is active when the path setting is changed. Reissue the command. You must successfully perform at least one I/O operation before the change takes effect.

esxcfg-nas

The esxcfg-nas command manipulates NAS file systems associated with ESXi systems. In vSphere 5.0 and later, equivalent ESXCLI commands are available.

esxcfg-nas Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-nas Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
- -add <name> -a <name>	storage nfs add	Add a new NAS file system to the ESXi host. You must specify the host name or IP address of the NFS volume to add, the share name on the remote system, and the volume name to use for the NFS mount.
- -delete <name> -d <name>	storage nfs remove --volume-name=<NAS_volume_name>	Remove an existing NFS volume from the ESXi host. This command unmounts the NAS file system and removes it from the list of known file systems.
- -list -l	storage nfs list	List all known NAS file systems with their mount name, share name, and host name. Indicate the mount status for each file system.
- -host <n_host> -o <n_host>	storage nfs add --host	Add or remove a specified NAS host (not ESXi host). Used with other options.
- -readonly -y	storage nfs add --readonly	Add the new NFS file system with read-only access.
- -share <share> -s <share>	storage nfs add --share=<share>	Add or remove a specified NAS host (not ESXi host. Used with other options.

ESXCLI also includes commands to mount and unmount the NAS filesystem.

esxcfg-nics

The esxcfg-nics command manages physical NICs (uplink adapters) used by an ESXi host. In vSphere 5.0 and later, equivalent ESXCLI commands are available.

esxcfg-nics Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-nics Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
- -auto -a	network nic set --auto	Set the specified network adapter to autonegotiate its speed and duplex settings.
- -duplex [full|half] <nic> -d [full|half] <nic>	network nic set --duplex	Set the duplex value at which a given network adapter should run to either full (transmit data in both directions at the same time) or half (transmit data in one direction at a time).
- -list -l	network nic list network nic get <adapter>	List information about all the network adapters. Use network nic get <adapter> to list information about one specific adapter, for example esxcli network nic get -n vmnic0
- -speed <speed> <nic> -s <speed> <nic>	network nic set --speed=<long>	Set the speed at which a given network adapter should run. Valid values for speed are 10, 100, 1000, or 10000.

esxcfg-rescan

The esxcfg-rescan command rescans the storage configuration. In vSphere 5.0 and later, equivalent ESXCLI commands are available.

Table 21. esxcfg-rescan Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-rescan Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
-a|--add	storage core adapter rescan --type=add	Scan for added devices.
-d|--delete <vmhba#>	storage core adapter rescan --type=delete --adapter <vmhba#>	Scan removing dead devices
-A|--all	storage core adapter rescan	Scan all adapters. By default, the command scans all adapters. You can specify individual adapters by using the --adapter option.
-u|--update <vmhba#>	storage core adapter rescan --type=update --adapter <vmhba#>	Scan existing paths and update their state.

In addition, ESXCLI supports several other rescan commands. Run esxcli storage core adapter rescan --help.

esxcfg-vmknic

The esxcfg-vmknic command adds, deletes, and modifies VMkernel network interfaces. In vSphere 5.0 and later, equivalent ESXCLI commands are available.

esxcfg-vmknic Replacement Commands 

esxcfg- option	ESXCLI Command	Description
--add --ip<address> --netmask <netmask> <port-group-name>	network ip interface add	Add a VMkernel NIC to the system. When the command completes successfully, the newly added VMkernel NIC is enabled.
--delete <nic_name>	network ip interface remove	Remove a VMkernel NIC.
--disable -D	network ip interface set --interface-name=<NIC> --enabled=[true|false]	The ESXCLI command enables or disables the specified VMkernel NIC.
--dvs-name <dvs> -s	Not supported.
--dvport_id <port_id>	Not supported.
--enable	network ip interface ipv4 set --interface-name=<NIC>	Set and enable the specified VMkernel NIC if it is disabled.
--enable-ipv6 -6 [true | false]	network ip interface ipv6 set --enable-dhcpv6 network ip interface ipv6 address [list|add|remove]	Enable IPv6 for the next boot; manage the IPv6 address.
--ip <address> -i <address>	network ip interface ipv4 set --interface-name=<NIC> network ip interface ipv6 set --interface-name=<NIC>	The IP address to be used for the VMkernel NIC. If you set a static IPv4 address, you must specify the --netmask option in same command.
--list -l	network ip interface list network ip interface ipv4 list network ip interface ipv6 list	List VMkernel network interfaces. List IPv4 addresses assigned to the system. List IPv6 addresses assigned to the system.
--mtu <mtu>	network ip interface set --interface-name=<NIC> --mtu=<long>	MTU for the interface being created. Used at the top-level ip namespace, not inside the ipv4 or ipv6 namespace.
--netmask <netmask> -n	network ip interface ipv4 set --interface=<NIC> --netmask=<netmask> network ip interface ipv4 set --interface=<NIC> --netmask=<netmask>	IP netmask(X.X.X.X) to be used for the VMkernel NIC. Setting an IP netmask requires that the --interface option be given in same command.
--peerdns -p	network ip interface ipv4 set --interface=<NIC> --peer-dns=[true|false] network ip interface ipv6 set --interface=<NIC> --peer-dns=[true|false]	Set peer DNS. If set, the system uses the host name, IP address and domain returned by DHCP. Valid only for DHCP.
--portgroup <port_group>	Not needed.
--unset-ip -U	Not needed.

esxcfg-volume

The esxcfg-volume command manages LVM snapshot or replica volumes. In vSphere 5.0 and later, equivalent ESXCLI commands are available in the esxcli storage filesystem and in the esxcli storage vmfs namespaces.

esxcfg-volume Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-volume Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
--list -l	storage vmfs snapshot list	List unresolved snapshot LUNs or replicas of VMFS volumes.
--mount -m --persistent -M	storage vmfs snapshot mount	Mount a snapshot or replica of a VMFS volume. Use the --nopersist option to mount the volume non-persistently.
--resignature <VMFS-UUID|label>	storage vmfs snapshot resignature	Resignature a snapshot or replica volume.
--umount -u <VMFS-UUID|label>	storage vmfs snapshot unmount	Disconnect and unmount an existing VMFS or NAS volume. The command does not delete the configuration for the volume, but removes the volume from the list of mounted volumes and halts all I/O or network traffic for this volume.

esxcfg-vswitch

The esxcfg-vswitch command manages virtual switches. In vSphere 5.0 and later, equivalent ESXCLI commands are available.

esxcfg-vswitch Replacement Commands 

esxcfg-vswitch Option	ESXCLI Command	Description
--add | -a <switch_name>	network vswitch standard add	Add a new virtual switch.
--add-pg | -A <portgroup> <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard portgroup add portgroup-name=<string> vswitch-name=<string>	Add a port group to the specified virtual switch.
--add-dvp-uplink -P	Not supported.	Add an uplink adapter to a distributed virtual port (DVP).
--add-pg-uplink | -M	esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup policy failover set --active-uplinks=vmnic1,vmnic6,vminic7	Update the list of active uplinks for the port group. This command fails silently if the uplink adapter does not exist.
--check | -c <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard list	Check whether a virtual switch exists. Print 1 if the switch exists and print 0 otherwise. Use the virtual switch name, e.g. vSwitch0 or vSwitch1, to specify the virtual switch.
--check-pg | -C <port_group> <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard portgroup list	Check whether the specified port group exists or not.
--delete | -d <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard remove --vswitch-name=<vswitch>	Remove a virtual switch. Running the command with this option fails if any ports on the virtual switch are in use by VMkernel networks or virtual machines.
--del-pg | -D <port_group> <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard portgroup remove --vswitch-name=<vswitch> --portgroup-name=<portgroup>	Remove a port group from the virtual switch. Running the command with this option fails if the port group is in use, for example, by a virtual machine or a VMkernel network.
--del-dvp-uplink | -Q <adapter_name> --dvp <DVPort_id> <dvswitch_name>	ESXCLI does not support distributed switches. Use the vSphere Client to configure distributed switches.
--del-pg-uplink | -N <adapter_name> <port_group> <dvswitch_name>	network vswitch standard portgroup policy failover set --active-uplinks=vmnic1,vmnic6,vminic7	Update the list of active uplinks for the port group.
--dvp | -V	ESXCLI does not support distributed switches. Use the vSphere Client to configure distributed switches.
--get-cdp | -b <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard list includes CDP information.	Print the current CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) setting for this virtual switch (valid for vSphere 4.0 and later).
--link | -L <physical_nic> <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard uplink add --uplink --vswitch	Add an uplink adapter (physical NIC) to a virtual switch. Running the command with this option attaches a new unused physical network adapter to a virtual switch.
--list | -l	network vswitch standard list	List all virtual switches and their port groups.
--mtu | -m <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard set --mtu=<long>	Set the MTU (maximum transmission unit) of the virtual switch. This option affects all physical NICs assigned to the virtual switch.
--pg | -p <port_group>	network vswitch standard portgroup set --vlan-id=<long>	Provide the name of the port group for the --vlan option. Specify ALL to set VLAN IDs on all port groups of a virtual switch.
--set-cdp | -B <vswitch_name> [down | listen | advertise | both]	network vswitch standard set --cpd-status=<string>	Set the CDP status for a given virtual switch (valid for vSphere 4.0 and later). To set, specify down, listen, advertise, or both.
--unlink | -U <physical_nic> <vswitch_name>	network vswitch standard uplink remove --uplink=<uplink> --vswitch=<vswitch>	Remove an uplink adapter from a virtual switch. An uplink adapter corresponds to a physical Ethernet adapter to which the virtual switch is connected. If you remove the last uplink adapter, you lose physical network connectivity for that switch.
--vlan | -v --pg <port_group>	network vswitch standard portgroup set --portgroup-name=<str> --vlan-id=<long>	Set the VLAN ID for a specific port group of a virtual switch. Setting the option to 0 disables the VLAN for this port group. If you specify this option, you must also specify the --portgroup option.
-X --set-maxactive	network vswitch standard portgroup policy failover set --active-uplinks=vmnic1,vmnic6,vminic7	Explicitly specify the maximum number of active uplinks. At any time, there is one port group NIC array, and a corresponding set of active uplinks. For example, assume the portgroup nic array is [vmnic1, vmnic0, vmnic3, vmnic5, vmnic6, vmnic7] and active-uplinks is set to three uplinks (vmnic1, vmnic0, vmnic3), and the rest are standby uplinks. If you set the active uplinks with new set [vmnic3, vmnic5], those uplinks override the old set. The NIC array changes to [vmnic3, vmnic5, vmnic6, vmnic7] and max-active becomes 2.

esxtop

The esxtop command is available and supported in the ESXi Shell. Search the vSphere Documentation Center, or see the vSphere Resource Management documentation.

esxupdate

The esxupdate command allows you to manage ESX 4.0 and later systems. Use the commands in the esxcli software namespace to install, update, remove, or display individual VIBs (software packages). Use commands in the esxcli software sources namespace to query depot contents for VIBs and image profiles. An image profile defines an ESXi image and consists of VIBs.

Important The update process in the vSphere 5 and vSphere 6 environments has been simplified and differs from the process in vSphere 4.1. Several command options do not have direct equivalents. See the Upgrade Guide.

Table 25. esxupdate Replacement Commands 

esxupdate Command	ESXCLI Command	Description
query	esxcli software vib list	List all installed VIB packages.
info	vSphere 5.0 and later does not support bulletins. Instead, you update your system with individual VIBs or image profiles. See the Upgrade documentation. esxcli software vib get --vibname=<str> esxcli software profile get	Display information on one or more VIBs.
update	esxcli software vib update esxcli software profile update esxcli software vib install esxcli software profile install	The update command updates VIB packages but does not install new VIBs. The install command installs VIB packages from a URL or depot. The command installs, upgrades, or downgrades VIBs.
remove	esxcli software vib remove	Remove selected VIBs from the host.
stage	No longer necessary.
scan	No longer necessary. Run esxcli software sources profile to query for image profiles in a depot. Run esxcli software sources vib to display information about VIB URLs and files.

vicfg-snmp

In vSphere 5.0, you can use the vicfg-snmp command to manage the ESXi SNMP agent. In vSphere 5.1 and later, the esxcli system snmp namespace has corresponding commands.

vmkfstools

vmkfstools is supported in the ESXi Shell and as a vCLI command. Some differences exist between the ESXi Shell vmkfstools command and the vmkfstools.pl vCLI command.

No equivalent ESXCLI command exists.

vmware-cmd

The vmware-cmd command is included in the vCLI package, but is not available in the ESXi Shell.

vm-support

The vm-support command is available in the ESXi Shell. The command is not included in the vCLI package.

Important The vSphere Client now supports all options to vm-support. If you cannot use the vSphere Client to access your ESXi system, you can use the vm-support command.