If corruption is found, try cloning the disk to bypass bad sectors: vmkfstools -i /path/to/corrupted.vmdk /path/to/new.vmdk .
Recovering VMFS partitions requires careful planning and execution to maximize data recovery. By following these steps and best practices, administrators can effectively recover from VMFS-related issues and minimize downtime in their virtualized environments.
df -h
Whether you're dealing with an accidental deletion, a corrupted datastore, or a RAID failure, understanding the mechanics of is critical to minimizing downtime. Common Causes of VMFS Data Loss recovering vmfs
| Mistake | Consequence | |---------|-------------| | Creating a new datastore on the same LUN | Overwrites VMFS header → makes recovery much harder | | Restoring a snapshot of a VM without fixing the datastore first | May write partial data and worsen corruption | | Using vmkfstools repair options incorrectly | Can corrupt other datastores on the same device |
For less severe issues, VMware provides built-in tools to re-mount or restore datastores.
Multiple drive failures in the underlying storage array (RAID 5/6) can break the logical volume. If corruption is found, try cloning the disk
: If the partition is detected but not mounted, try to mount it. If it fails, note down the UUID of the VMFS partition.
: If your storage array supports snapshots (like Pure Storage FlashArray or Dell VNXe), you can recover a VM directly from a hardware-based snapshot using the vSphere Plugin or Unisphere .
esxcfg-volume or using specialized software to reconstruct damaged partitions, particularly when dealing with heavily fragmented thin-provisioned disks. For more details, visit VMFS Recovery . Broadcom Community +2 AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses Copy Creating a public link... You can now share this thread with others Good response Bad response 3 sites VMFS datastore data recovery | VMware vSphere Jun 23, 2020 — df -h Whether you're dealing with an accidental
Recovering VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) partitions can be a critical task, especially in environments where VMware ESXi hosts are used. VMFS is a high-performance cluster file system that allows multiple ESXi hosts to access and share the same storage, making it essential for virtualized infrastructures. However, data loss or corruption can occur due to various reasons such as hardware failure, configuration errors, or unforeseen issues. Here’s a step-by-step guide on recovering VMFS partitions:
Before diving into the recovery process, it's crucial to understand that VMFS recovery often involves using tools and techniques that can handle file system repairs and data extraction. The goal is to recover as much data as possible from a damaged or corrupted VMFS partition.
From CLI: