---
name: "nvme-device-self-test"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "nvme-cli"
version: "3.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nvme-device-self-test"
---

# nvme-device-self-test(1)

Perform the necessary tests to observe the performance and the parameters

## NAME

nvme-device-self-test - Perform the necessary tests to observe the performance and the parameters

## SYNOPSIS

```
nvme [<global-options>] device-self-test <device>
                        [--namespace-id=<NUM> | -n <NUM>]
                        [--self-test-code=<NUM> | -s <NUM>]
                        [--wait | -w]
```

## DESCRIPTION

Initiates the required test based on the user input.

The \<device\> parameter is mandatory and may be either the NVMe character device (ex: /dev/nvme0), or a namespace block device (ex: /dev/nvme0n1).

On success, the corresponding test is initiated.

The results of this test can be queried via *nvme self-test-log \<device\>*.

## OPTIONS

- \-n \<NUM\>, --namespace-id=\<NUM\>

  Indicate the namespace in which the device self-test has to be carried out The broadcast value 0xffffffff can also be given as *all* or *-1*.

- \-s \<NUM\>, --self-test-code=\<NUM\>

  This field specifies the action taken by the device self-test command : 0h: Show current state of device self-test operation 1h: Start a short device self-test operation 2h: Start a extended device self-test operation eh: Start a vendor specific device self-test operation fh: Abort the device self-test operation Default is 0h.

- \-w, --wait

  Wait for the device self test to complete before exiting The device self-test is aborted by SIGINT signal interrupt for the wait The option is ignored if the abort self-test code option specified.

## GLOBAL OPTIONS

The following options are defined at the top-level nvme command and are available to this subcommand:

- \--dry-run

  Print the command that would be executed, but do not actually execute it.

- \--no-ioctl-probing

  Disable probing for 64-bit IOCTL support.

- \--no-retries

  Disable retry logic on transient errors.

- \-o \<fmt\>, --output-format=\<fmt\>

  Set the reporting format to *normal*, *tabular, 'json*, or *binary*. Only one output format may be used at a time.

- \--output-format-version=\<version\>

  Select the output format version. Version *1* uses the original field naming, while version *2* (default) provides more consistent and script-friendly field names. Other versions are rejected.

- \--quiet

  Suppress informational messages. Errors are still reported, and --quiet cancels any --verbose for the library log level.

- \--set-options=\<key=value\>\[,\<key=value\>...\]

  Set libnvme library options for this invocation. Supported keys are *force-4k*, *mi-probe-enabled*, *test-base-dir* and *test-sysfs-dir*.

- \--timeout=\<ms\>

  Set the timeout for the command in milliseconds. *infinite* or *-1* waits without a time limit (0xffffffff).

- \-v, --verbose

  Increase the level of detail in the output. May be specified multiple times to further increase verbosity.

These options can also be set as machine-wide defaults in [nvme-cli.conf(5)](/nvme-cli.conf/5.md). A command-line flag always overrides the file.

## EXAMPLES

• Start a short device self-test in the namespace-id 1:

```
# nvme device-self-test /dev/nvme0 -n 1 -s 1
```

• Abort the device self-test operation in the namespace-id 1:

```
# nvme device-self-test /dev/nvme0 -n 1 -s 0xf
```

## NVME

Part of the nvme-user suite