Recover Deleted Vmdk |work| -

Native recovery is possible only in specific scenarios. Otherwise, move to data recovery tools. 2. File-Level Recovery (If VMFS Datastore Still Intact) Using lsdel command (ESXi local CLI) On a VMFS datastore, deleted files remain until overwritten. Run:

Quick first step before any writes to the datastore. Success rate ~30-50%. 3. Third-Party Recovery Tools (Recommended for serious recovery) These tools scan VMFS datastores at the block level. All require the datastore to be unmounted or accessed from a separate recovery host. recover deleted vmdk

lsdel -u /vmfs/volumes/DatastoreName/ This lists recoverable deleted files with timestamps and inode numbers. Use vmkfstools -U to undelete (VMFS5/6 only, limited success). Effectiveness: Moderate. Works best for recently deleted files on low-activity datastores. Native recovery is possible only in specific scenarios

Would you like a specific step-by-step guide for any of these methods (e.g., R-Studio recovery or manual descriptor recreation)? File-Level Recovery (If VMFS Datastore Still Intact) Using