Recover Deleted Vmdk File From Vmfs Datastore [better] May 2026

vmkfstools -D /vmfs/volumes/DatastoreName/VMname/VMname.vmdk But this fails if the VMDK descriptor is missing. The only native “undelete” attempt is to use the (not a standard command) – in reality, no such tool exists in ESXi.

Introduction In virtualized environments, VMware’s VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) is the backbone of storage for ESXi hosts. Virtual machines (VMs) rely on VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) files—large, flat or delta files that contain the guest operating system, applications, and user data. Accidentally deleting a VMDK file is a sysadmin’s nightmare: without a valid backup or replica, a VM can become permanently inaccessible. However, under certain conditions, recovery is possible. This essay explores the structure of VMFS, why deleted VMDK files are hard to recover, and the precise methods—using both native ESXi tools and third-party utilities—to attempt recovery. Understanding VMFS and VMDK Deletion Semantics VMFS is a clustered, journaled file system designed for high-performance block storage. Unlike traditional file systems (NTFS, ext4), VMFS uses distributed locking, atomic updates, and a specialized metadata structure. A VMDK file, typically stored in a VM’s directory alongside .vmx and .vmsd files, is composed of extents (up to 256 per file) and referenced by file descriptors in the VMFS file system. recover deleted vmdk file from vmfs datastore

A more promising native approach: . Run: vmkfstools -D /vmfs/volumes/DatastoreName/VMname/VMname

Conclusion: Native ESXi commands alone cannot recover a deleted VMDK’s data blocks. Several commercial tools specialize in VMFS undelete. Their working principle: parse VMFS metadata structures (file descriptors, journal, bitmap) to locate deleted file entries and reassemble extents. Virtual machines (VMs) rely on VMDK (Virtual Machine