To understand the flat.vmdk , you first have to understand that a "virtual hard drive" in VMware is rarely just one file. It is usually a duo:
Furthermore, the flat.vmdk plays a central role in snapshot and cloning operations. When a snapshot is taken, the original flat.vmdk becomes read-only, and all new writes are directed to a new child disk called a redo log (or -delta.vmdk ). The parent flat.vmdk remains immutable until the snapshot is deleted, at which point the data is committed back to it. Similarly, when cloning a VM, VMware reads from the source flat.vmdk block-by-block to write a new flat.vmdk for the destination. Understanding this mechanism allows administrators to manipulate snapshots manually (though not recommended) or recover space by consolidating delta files. flat.vmdk file
Every VMware administrator has a horror story involving the flat.vmdk . To understand the flat
Here is an exploration of the flat.vmdk file—what it is, why it behaves the way it does, and the terrifying power it holds. The parent flat
Understanding the flat.vmdk File: The Engine of VMware Virtual Disks
While the flat.vmdk is reliable, the industry is slowly moving past it. Modern storage solutions prefer the (Space Efficient Sparse) or the vmdk formats used by vSAN.
: This is the heavy lifter. It is the virtual equivalent of a physical hard drive platter, containing the raw data used by the guest operating system.