Location: University of New Hampshire InterOperability Lab (UNH-IOL) – Durham, NH
Join the UNH-IOL for NVMe Plugfest #26, two weeks of NVMe conformance and interoperability testing using the newly released v26.0 test suites. Plugfest #26 will be the first Plugfest to use v26.0, giving participants an opportunity to validate their devices against the latest UNH-IOL NVMe test coverage.
Testing will be scheduled based on participant registrations, allowing vendors to select the technologies and test areas most relevant to their products.
Registration Deadline: November 16, 2026
Testing Available
Plugfest #26 will support conformance and interoperability testing across a broad range of NVMe technologies, including:
- NVMe over PCIe®
- Zoned Namespace (ZNS)
- RDMA
- TCP
- Fibre Channel
Participants will select the testing they need during registration. Following the November 13 registration deadline, the UNH-IOL will build and communicate individual testing schedules based on the registrations received.
What's New in Plugfest #26
Sanitize per Namespace
Plugfest #26 introduces expanded test coverage for Sanitize per Namespace. The new tests validate namespace-level sanitization behavior, including command handling, status reporting, asynchronous events, log-page behavior, error conditions, concurrent sanitize operations, and interactions between namespace-level and subsystem-wide sanitize operations.
Parallel Testing with IOL INTERACT
IOL INTERACT now supports running multiple tests simultaneously within a single GUI instance. Participants can use as many concurrent test sessions as their available licenses support, allowing multiple devices or test cases to be exercised in parallel and helping reduce overall testing time.
v26.0 Test Suite Updates
In addition to new test coverage, the v26.0 release includes routine maintenance and improvements across the NVMe test suites, including:
- Test case fixes
- Clarifications based on NVMe Engineering Change Notices (ECNs)
- General test updates and maintenance
Highlighted Testing Areas
Plugfest #26 will also provide testing for several important NVMe features introduced in recent test-suite releases.
Configurable Device Personality
Testing will validate a controller's ability to transition between supported device personalities while maintaining expected behavior, data integrity, and stability.
Power Limit Configuration
Testing will evaluate device behavior when power limits are configured by the host, including power-state transitions and adherence to defined power limits.
Self-Reported Drive Power
Testing will evaluate how accurately devices report power consumption through NVMe telemetry, helping validate the information used for power and thermal management.
v26.0 Test Suites
Plugfest #26 will use the latest v26.0 versions of the UNH-IOL NVMe test suites, including:
- NVM Command Set Conformance v26.0
- NVMe PCIe Transport Conformance v26.0
- NVMe-MI Conformance v26.0
- NVMe RDMA Transport Conformance v26.0
- NVMe TCP Transport Conformance v26.0
- Zoned Namespace (ZNS) v26.0
Participation and Scheduling
Plugfest #26 is expected to primarily support remote testing. Vendors are also welcome to send engineering teams to the UNH-IOL in Durham, New Hampshire when onsite participation would be beneficial for their testing.
There will not be a fixed technology split between the two weeks of the event. Testing will instead be scheduled throughout the November 30 – December 11 window based on the types of devices and testing requested during registration.
For remote participation, vendors are strongly encouraged to have their devices arrive at the UNH-IOL by November 16, 2026. This provides sufficient time for setup and preparation before Plugfest testing begins.
Pre-Event Webinar
October 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time
30 minutes
Before Plugfest #26, the UNH-IOL will host a short webinar to help participants prepare for the event.
Topics will include:
- Plugfest logistics and the remote testing process
- Device shipping and preparation expectations
- An overview of the v26.0 NVMe test-suite updates
- IOL INTERACT parallel testing capabilities
Can’t make it? The webinar will be recorded and posted and shared for participants who are unable to attend live.
Registration and Participation
- Registration for NVMe Plugfest #26 is open through November 13, 2026.
- Participation requires an active NVM Express membership.
- Testing is free for UNH-IOL NVMe Test Service members.
- Companies may register up to two devices.
- Additional devices will be placed on a waitlist.
- Each device is strongly encouraged to complete pre-screening before Plugfest testing begins to help maximize productive testing time during the event.
Following the close of registration, the UNH-IOL will finalize testing schedules and communicate individual testing times to participants.