Rename the temporary descriptor file to match your original orphaned flat file: mv temp.vmdk example.vmdk 5. Edit the Descriptor File
Use the vmkfstools command to create a new disk with the exact same size as your original: vmkfstools -c 42949672960 -d thin temp.vmdk This creates temp.vmdk and temp-flat.vmdk . 4. Salvage the Descriptor
If your -flat.vmdk is intact but the descriptor is gone, you can recreate it using the ESXi command line. 1. Identify the Exact Size
By following these best practices and knowing how to repair a corrupted flat VMDK file, you can minimize downtime and data loss in case of a corruption event.
To prevent flat VMDK corruption, it's recommended to:
– Virtualised Reality (Mike Laverick) Practical guide with examples of recreating the descriptor using geometry from the flat file.
These go beyond KBs, explaining the why behind the repair, and include troubleshooting for edge cases (e.g., snapshots, thick/thin provisioning confusion).
An open-source tool that can often find lost partitions inside a raw flat file if the partition table was wiped. Best Practices to Prevent Corruption
– r/vmware (Reddit) – search for top-voted repair threads. Practical tips: checking for zero-byte descriptor, using dd to copy flat file to new VMDK, and disk geometry calculators.