Flat File !free! | Vmware

: A tiny text file that acts as a pointer. It tells VMware which flat file to use and how to interpret the raw bits. Flat File ( example-flat.vmdk ) : The actual data. Virtual Machines downloads to -flat files? | VMware vSphere

: A small plain-text file. It contains metadata, including disk geometry, hardware versions, sector information, and pointers to the underlying data storage. vmware flat file

Every virtual hard drive assigned to an ESXi virtual machine relies on a two-part ecosystem: : A tiny text file that acts as a pointer

If you have ever browsed a VMware datastore (VMFS) or looked inside a folder containing virtual machine files, you have likely stumbled upon a massive file with the extension alongside another file ending in -flat.vmdk . Virtual Machines downloads to -flat files

: Unlike "sparse" disks that grow as you add data, a traditional flat file is thick-provisioned . It immediately occupies the full capacity assigned to the virtual disk on the physical storage, filled with zeros where data hasn't been written yet.

Note: If you are using , you might see a -sesparse.vmdk or just the standard .vmdk growing over time instead of a static -flat.vmdk . The -flat extension is typical for "Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed" or "Thick Provision Eager Zeroed" disks.

You can recreate the descriptor file manually or by using vmkfstools .