Recover - Deleted Vmdk |link|

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.

| Tool | Strengths | Weaknesses | Success Rate | |------|-----------|-------------|---------------| | | Deep scan, recovers fragmented VMDKs, preview before recovery | Paid ($79.99) | Very high (80-95% if not overwritten) | | DiskInternals VMFS Recovery | User-friendly wizard, supports RAID | Slower on large datastores | High (75-90%) | | UFS Explorer Professional | Best for complex RAID & VMFS corruption | Expensive (~$250+) | Excellent (90%+) | | Starus VMFS Recovery | Free trial preview, good for single VMDK | Limited advanced features | Moderate (60-80%) | recover deleted vmdk

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. Works best for recently deleted files on low-activity

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: R-Studio recovery or manual descriptor recreation)?

Would you like a specific step-by-step guide for any of these methods (e.g., R-Studio recovery or manual descriptor recreation)?