lsof | grep -i "deleted" If you see your -flat.vmdk listed as (deleted) , the file is still open by a running VM. (force power off). The file will be released, and you may lose it forever unless you use advanced recovery tools (rare). Proceed to Step 2.
| Tool | Best For | Notes | |------|----------|-------| | (bootable) | VMFS5, VMFS6 | Scans raw sectors, reconstructs -flat.vmdk | | UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Complex storage, RAIDs | Industry standard for VMware recovery | | DiskInternals VMFS Recovery | Simple deletions | Less expensive | | Klennix VMFS Recovery | Extremely damaged/corrupt VMFS | Forensic-level | recover deleted flat vmdk file
VMFS (typically version 5, 6, or 6.81) is complex. Consumer tools won't work. You need VMware-aware recovery tools: lsof | grep -i "deleted" If you see your -flat
Shut down the ESXi host, do not touch anything, and hire a professional data recovery service that specializes in VMware VMFS (e.g., Gillware, Ontrack, Fields Data Recovery). Expect to pay $1,500–$5,000. Proceed to Step 2
SSH into the ESXi host. Run:
This is an excellent and technically nuanced question. Before diving into the "how," we need a critical reality check:
