Vmfs Repair Tools Jun 2026
: Similar to DiskInternals, it allows users to mount the underlying storage (LUN) and extract VMDK files when the ESXi server is unable to recognize the partition. Microsoft Marketplace +2 3. Comparison of Native vs. Third-Party Tools Feature Native VMware Tools (VOMA) Third-Party (DiskInternals/BitRecover) Execution Environment ESXi Shell / SSH Windows PC (connected to storage) Primary Use Metadata consistency check Data extraction & partition repair Cost Free (Included with ESXi) Licensed / Paid Safety High (Read-only by default) High (Non-destructive scanning) 4. Recovery Best Practices Backup First
The Administrator’s Guide to VMFS Repair Tools: Recovering from File System Corruption VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) is the high-performance clustered file system at the heart of VMware vSphere environments. While it’s robust and mature, no storage system is immune to corruption. Unexpected power loss, failing storage arrays, faulty HBAs, or improper snapshot consolidation can render a VMFS datastore inaccessible. When a VMFS volume becomes corrupt, the difference between hours of downtime and a quick recovery often comes down to having the right VMFS repair tool . This article explores the native tools available in the VMware ecosystem and the third-party utilities designed to salvage data from damaged VMFS datastores. Native VMware Repair Tools (The First Line of Defense) Before turning to commercial solutions, you should always start with the tools built into ESXi. 1. vmfs-tools (Command Line) The vmfs-tools suite (available via the ESXi Shell or SSH) provides several low-level repair capabilities:
vmfs-fsck – The closest equivalent to Linux’s fsck . It checks and attempts to repair VMFS metadata inconsistencies. vmfs-fsck -V 64 -t 3 /dev/disks/naa.XXXXXX
Important: This tool works best on VMFS5 and earlier. For VMFS6, its capabilities are limited. vmfs repair tools
vmfs-dumpfst – Dumps file system transaction logs to help diagnose corruption points.
vmfs-undelete – A hidden gem. If you’ve accidentally deleted a VM folder or VMDK descriptor file, this tool can recover it provided the blocks haven’t been overwritten.
2. The ESXi Storage Resignaturing & Recovery When a datastore appears as "unmounted" or "corrupt" due to lost write ordering or snapshot issues: : Similar to DiskInternals, it allows users to
Resignaturing : Use esxcli storage vmfs snapshot resignature to mount a copy of a LUN with a new UUID. Recovery Mode : Booting ESXi from a USB drive into a recovery shell allows you to run vmfs-fsck on an unmounted volume—this is often more successful than repairing a mounted one.
Limitation : Native tools rarely fix severe metadata corruption (e.g., damaged file allocation table, corrupted .vmdk descriptor files). When vmfs-fsck fails or aborts, you need third-party tools. Third-Party VMFS Repair Tools (For Severe Corruption) When native tools cannot mount the volume or you see errors like "Failed to repair volume," commercial software is your next step. 1. DiskInternals VMFS Recovery
Best for : Deep scanning and recovering VMs from completely corrupted datastores. How it works : It bypasses the broken file system and performs a raw signature search for VMFS metadata, .vmdk headers, and flat files. Key features : Unexpected power loss, failing storage arrays, faulty HBAs,
Supports VMFS5, VMFS6, and RAID arrays (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10). Can recover individual VMDK files without a full datastore repair. Includes a built-in VMFS Explorer to preview files.
Limitation : The free version allows only scanning and preview; full recovery requires a license.