Recover Deleted Vmdk Work -

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:

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. recover deleted vmdk

| 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%) | Native recovery is possible only in specific scenarios