---
name: "pvscsi"
section: "4"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pvscsi"
---

# pvscsi(4)

VMware Paravirtual SCSI Controller

## NAME

**pvscsi** – VMware Paravirtual SCSI Controller

## SYNOPSIS

To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following line in your kernel configuration file:

**device pci** **device scbus** **device pvscsi**

Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the following line in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
pvscsi_load="YES"
```

The following tunables are settable from the [loader(8)](/loader/8.md):

- *hw.pvscsi.request\_ring\_pages*

  controls how many pages are allocated for the device request ring. A non-positive value will cause the driver to choose the value based on device capabilities. A non-zero value will use that many number of pages up to a maximum of 32. The default setting is 0.

- *hw.pvscsi.max\_queue\_depth*

  controls the queue size for the adapter. A non-positive value will cause the driver to choose the value based on number of request ring pages. A non-zero value will set the queue size up to a maximum allowed by the number of request ring pages. Default is 0.

- *hw.pvscsi.use\_msg*

  setting to nonzero value enables the use of the PVSCSI message queue allowing for disk hot-add and remove without manual rescan needed. Default is 1.

- *hw.pvscsi.use\_msi*

  setting to nonzero value enables the use of MSI interrupts. Default is 1.

- *hw.pvscsi.use\_msix*

  setting to nonzero value enables the use of MSI-X interrupts. Default is 1.

- *hw.pvscsi.use\_req\_call\_threshold*

  setting to nonzero value enables the request call threshold functionality. TODO. Default is 1.

## DESCRIPTION

The **pvscsi** driver provides support for the VMware Paravirtual SCSI Controller (PVSCSI) in virtual machines by VMware.

## SEE ALSO

[cam(4)](/cam/4.md), [da(4)](/da/4.md)

## HISTORY

The **pvscsi** driver first appeared in FreeBSD 13.0.

## AUTHORS

Vishal Bhakta ⟨*vbhakta@vmware.com*⟩.