Recovering a deleted VMDK file from a VMFS datastore can be a challenging task, but with the right tools and techniques, it's achievable. By following this step-by-step guide and using reliable data recovery tools, you can successfully recover your deleted VMDK file and minimize data loss. Remember to always maintain regular backups and follow best practices to ensure data safety.
If the large -flat.vmdk file (the actual data) is still present but the virtual machine won't start because the small descriptor file is missing, you can recreate it manually via the ESXi command line: on your ESXi host and log in as root. recover deleted vmdk file from vmfs datastore
When a VMDK is deleted , VMFS does not immediately erase the raw data blocks. Instead, it performs the following: Recovering a deleted VMDK file from a VMFS
Several professional utilities can reconstruct deleted VMFS volumes and files: Accidentally deleted .vmdk, anyway to recover the files? If the large -flat