If enabled, use:
VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) is a file system used by VMware ESXi to store virtual machines. It's a critical component of any VMware infrastructure. However, data loss can occur due to various reasons such as accidental deletion, file system corruption, or storage issues. In this post, we'll explore the process of undeleting VMFS files and recovering your critical virtual machine data.
esxcli storage vmfs undelete status -l datastore_name undelete vmfs file
Or use hexdump :
To minimize the risk of data loss, follow these best practices: If enabled, use: VMFS (Virtual Machine File System)
However, "deleted" does not always mean "gone." Depending on how much time has passed and how your storage is configured, there are several pathways to recovery. The Mechanics of VMFS Deletion
VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) is VMware's clustered file system used to store virtual machines (VMDKs, VMX, logs, etc.) on shared block storage (SAN, iSCSI, or local disks). Accidentally deleting a virtual machine file (e.g., a .vmdk or .vmx ) is a common administrative mistake. In this post, we'll explore the process of
This is the most common free method.