:_newdoc-version: 2.18.5
:_template-generated: 2025-08-13
:_mod-docs-content-type: REFERENCE

[id="hot-plug-and-hot-unplug-commands_{context}"]
= Hot plug and hot unplug  commands

[role="_abstract"]
You can use the following `virtctl` commands to add or remove resources from running virtual machines (VMs) and VM instances (VMIs).

.Hot plug and hot unplug commands
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|===
|Command |Description
|`virtctl addvolume <vm_name> --volume-name=<datavolume_or_PVC> [--persist] [--serial=<label>]`
|Hot plug a data volume or persistent volume claim (PVC).

Optional:

* `--persist` mounts the virtual disk permanently on a VM. *This flag does not apply to VMIs.*
* `--serial=<label>` adds a label to the VM. If you do not specify a label, the default label is the data volume or PVC name.

|`virtctl removevolume <vm_name> --volume-name=<virtual_disk>`
|Hot unplug a virtual disk.
|===