Esxi Data - Recovery
: If the host itself is corrupted, use the configBundle file to restore settings. Install the same ESXi version on the target host. Put the host into Maintenance Mode . Upload the backup configuration file to the /tmp directory.
Note: This paper is intended for IT professionals and disaster recovery specialists. Always test recovery procedures in a non-production environment before attempting on critical data.
: Useful for loading damaged VMDKs as byte-by-byte images. You can boot a VM using an R-Studio Emergency ISO to scan for lost files internally.
VMware ESXi, as a leading Type-1 hypervisor, underpins countless enterprise virtualized environments. However, data loss within ESXi environments—whether due to accidental deletion, storage corruption, hardware failure, or ransomware—presents unique recovery challenges distinct from physical server or guest OS recovery. This paper examines the architecture of ESXi storage (VMFS, vSAN) and its implications for data loss, categorizes common failure scenarios, and provides a structured methodology for recovery. It evaluates native tools (e.g., vmfs-tools , esxcli ) alongside third-party solutions, while emphasizing the critical role of proactive backup strategies (VADP, Snapshots) as the primary defense. esxi data recovery
The approach to recovery depends heavily on the nature of the failure.
Gillware provides excellent PSOD recovery services using our groundbreaking ESXi data recovery techniques. Recovering files from f... Gillware Enterprise Data Recovery Services - Gillware Emergency Data Recovery Services Available * Servers. Servers are fairly autonomous. ... * VMWare. Our experts here at Gillware in... Gillware VMware ESXi Data Recovery | Rossmann Group VMware ESXi Data Recovery. We recover VMFS datastores from failed RAID arrays, repair broken snapshot chains, and extract individu... rossmanngroup.com ESXi Data Recovery | VMWare Data Recovery - Gillware A whole host of logical problems can lead to data loss as well. VMDK files can be deleted, or reset and reformatted. Data corrupti... Gillware How to back up and restore the ESXi host configuration 23 Jan 2026 —
An administrator deletes a 2 TB VM from a VMFS6 datastore without a recent backup. Action taken: : If the host itself is corrupted, use
ESXi manages virtual machines (VMs) as encapsulated files ( .vmx , .vmdk , .vmsn ) stored on datastores. Traditional file-level recovery tools are ineffective against VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) or vSAN due to their proprietary, cluster-aware design. Consequently, data recovery in ESXi demands specialized approaches that respect VMFS block allocation, partition tables, and file signatures.
If the datastore (VMFS) is corrupted or files were accidentally deleted without a backup, use specialized tools.
Data loss in an ESXi environment generally falls into three distinct categories, each requiring a different recovery approach. Upload the backup configuration file to the /tmp directory
: Open the new temp.vmdk descriptor and edit it to point to your original flat file instead of the temporary one.
Run the restore command in the ESXi shell (via SSH); the host will reboot automatically to apply settings. 2. Manual VMDK File Repair
: Use ls -l in the VM's datastore directory to find the size of the *-flat.vmdk file.