vmkfstools -V
# List all files including deleted (not truly hidden) ls -la /vmfs/volumes/DatastoreName/ vmfs recover deleted vmdk
offset += len(chunk)
if not files: print("[-] No deleted VMDK descriptors found.") vmkfstools -V # List all files including deleted
: Delete temp-flat.vmdk , leaving your original data intact with the new descriptor. 4. Using Professional VMFS Recovery Software Over time, new writes may overwrite freed blocks
| Factor | Impact on Recovery | |--------|---------------------| | Time since deletion | Immediate > higher chance. Over time, new writes may overwrite freed blocks. | | Datastore free space | Low free space → faster overwrite of deleted blocks. | | VMFS version | VMFS5/6 easier than VMFS3. VMFS6 with automatic unmap reduces chances. | | File size | Small VMDKs (e.g., thin-provisioned) are harder to recover due to sub-block scattering. | | File fragmentation | Highly fragmented VMDKs are harder to reassemble. | | Other operations | Creating new VMs, snapshots, or cloning after deletion reduces recoverability. |
# Signatures to look for self.VMDK_MAGIC_DESCRIPTOR = b"# Disk DescriptorFile" self.VMDK_MAGIC_FLAT = b"COMMA" # Often seen in sparse headers