Connect the physical storage (RAID or SAN) to a Linux machine. Install the tools: sudo apt-get install vmfs-tools

And remember: In a production environment, a reliable backup system is not optional—it is the difference between a minor inconvenience and a full-blown disaster.

Sometimes a VMDK is not truly deleted but is no longer attached to a VM.

In the realm of enterprise virtualization, VMware ESXi stands as a cornerstone for infrastructure management. It offers robust performance, high availability, and streamlined resource management. However, despite the sophistication of the platform, human error remains a persistent vulnerability. One of the most panic-inducing scenarios for a system administrator is the accidental deletion of a Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) file. As the primary storage container for a virtual machine’s operating system and data, the loss of a VMDK can result in significant downtime and data loss. Recovering a deleted VMDK is not a straightforward process, as it depends heavily on the storage architecture and the immediacy of the response. Successful recovery generally follows a tiered approach: prevention through snapshots, restoration from backups, and as a last resort, forensic file recovery using third-party tools.

This is time-consuming and requires precise knowledge of block offsets and VMDK structure. It is generally not recommended unless you have no other options.

Rename the new temp.vmdk to your original deleted_name.vmdk . Open it with a text editor ( vi deleted_name.vmdk ).