DiskInternals VMFS Recovery

DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: Full Review and Step-by-Step Guide

VMware vSphere and ESXi hosts are the backbone of modern enterprise IT infrastructure. When a Virtual Machine File System (VMFS) volume becomes corrupted, or virtual disks are accidentally deleted, the impact on business continuity can be catastrophic.

DiskInternals VMFS Recovery is a specialized software solution designed to scan damaged storage media and reconstruct VMFS structures to rescue critical data. This comprehensive review and guide evaluates its features, performance, and implementation. Product Overview and Key Features

DiskInternals VMFS Recovery is a standalone Windows-based application. It bypasses the VMware ESXi hypervisor layer to read raw storage blocks directly from hard drives, RAID arrays, or network storage. Automated VMFS Reconstruction

The software automatically detects the parameters of the VMFS file system, including volume extents, sector sizes, and cluster alignments. This eliminates the need for manual hexadecimal editing or deep forensic knowledge. Support for Modern VMware Formats

Fully compatible with VMFS6 (introduced in vSphere 6.5) and legacy VMFS5. Supports large-capacity virtual disks (VMDK) exceeding 2TB. Reconnects split, flat, and sparse virtual disk formats. Storage Interface Compatibility

The tool can access data across a wide range of storage configurations: Local SATA, SAS, and NVMe drives.

Hardware and software RAID controllers (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10).

Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Network (SAN) devices via iSCSI or Fibre Channel. Safe Read-Only Mode

Data integrity is critical during disaster recovery. DiskInternals operates strictly in a read-only mode, meaning it will never alter or write to the corrupted source drive, preventing further data degradation. Performance and Usability Review User Interface

The interface relies on a classic Windows Wizard approach. While it looks somewhat dated compared to modern consumer apps, the step-by-step nature makes it highly accessible for system administrators under high stress. Scanning Modes

Fast Scanning (Uneraser): Ideal for accidental deletions where the file system metadata remains intact. It locates deleted .vmdk files in seconds.

Full Recovery (Detailed Scan): Deeply parses the raw storage blocks to reconstruct heavily corrupted or formatted VMFS volumes. This process is highly effective but time-consuming on multi-terabyte arrays. Value for Money

DiskInternals offers a free trial that allows users to scan drives and preview recoverable files (such as text or configuration files inside the VMDK). However, to save the recovered virtual machines, a commercial license is required. For enterprise environments facing downtime, the license cost is easily justified by the time saved. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Recover VMFS Data

Follow these steps to recover virtual machines from a failed ESXi host or corrupted datastore. Prerequisites

Prepare a Recovery Machine: Install DiskInternals VMFS Recovery on a separate, healthy Windows machine (Windows 10, 11, or Windows Server).

Connect the Storage: Attach the corrupted ESXi storage media (the physical disks, RAID array, or iSCSI LUN) directly to this Windows recovery machine. Step 1: Launch the Software and Select the Drive

Open DiskInternals VMFS Recovery. The built-in Recovery Wizard will launch automatically. Select the physical drive or RAID volume that contains the corrupted VMFS partition and click Next. Step 2: Choose the Scan Mode Select the scanning depth based on your scenario:

Choose Fast Scanning if you accidentally deleted a VM or a VMDK file.

Choose Full Recovery if the ESXi host crashed, the partition table is lost, or the volume shows as unformatted. Click Next to begin the scanning process. Step 3: Preview the Recovered Files

Once the scan concludes, the software displays the reconstructed directory tree. Browse to the folders containing your virtual machines. Locate the primary .vmdk files.

Right-click a file and select Preview to verify its integrity before purchasing a license or starting the export. Step 4: Export and Save the Virtual Disks

Check the boxes next to the virtual machine files you need to rescue. Click the Save icon (floppy disk) on the top toolbar.

Select a destination directory. Important: Always save the recovered files to a completely different, healthy storage drive. Never save them back to the corrupted VMFS source. Final Verdict

DiskInternals VMFS Recovery is a highly reliable insurance policy for system administrators. While its deep scanning process demands patience on larger arrays, its ability to bypass hypervisor limitations and reconstruct complex VMFS structures makes it an essential tool for enterprise data rescue.

If you are dealing with an active data loss scenario and want to ensure a smooth recovery, let me know:

What caused the data loss? (e.g., accidental deletion, RAID failure, server crash) What version of ESXi or VMFS were you running?

What type of storage is the datastore on? (e.g., local RAID, NAS via iSCSI, SAN)

I can provide specific advice tailored to your environment to maximize your chances of a successful recovery.