If the -flat.vmdk file is still visible in the datastore via the ESXi CLI ( ls -la ), you are in luck. You can manually recreate the descriptor.
or place the datastore in Maintenance Mode.
By following these methods and taking preventative measures, you should be able to recover your deleted VMDK file in ESXi. recover deleted vmdk esxi
The actual heavy-duty data file (GB/TB). Scenario A: Only the Descriptor is missing
Identify what exactly was deleted. A standard virtual disk consists of two parts: If the -flat
Always verify backups before attempting any repair. For production VMs, contact VMware support if the data is business-critical.
Accidentally deleting a VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) file in an ESXi environment can be a critical event, but it is often reversible if handled quickly. The recovery process depends largely on whether you deleted only the small ( .vmdk ) or the actual data file ( -flat.vmdk ). 1. Stop Activity Immediately By following these methods and taking preventative measures,
Run ls -l vmname-flat.vmdk to get the exact size in bytes.