topic Re: I have a 32bit Linux VMDK that has lost some of its support files and no longer opens in VMware Fusion Discussions

I have a 32bit Linux VMDK that has lost some of its support files and no longer opens

TOLISTim — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 19:38:08 GMT

I have a 32bit Fedora image that contains old data from a developer who is no longer with us.

I have attempted to open it on my Mac under Fusion 12, but it refuses to recognize the flat.vmdk file.

The folder shows up with the VMWare warning triangle, and the filter itself only contains the -flat.vmdk, appListCache folder and caches folder.

Is there a way to repair this?

Re: I have a 32bit Linux VMDK that has lost some of its support files and no longer opens

a_p_ — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 19:50:37 GMT

A "-flat.vmdk" is usually a data file which requires an additional header/descriptor .vmdk file.
Did this VM originally run on an ESXi host? What's its exact size (in Bytes)?

André

Re: I have a 32bit Linux VMDK that has lost some of its support files and no longer opens

TOLISTim — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 13:26:31 GMT

Hi Andre,

The VM was from a Mac Pro 4.1 running Fusion 9. I them tried it on a Canister running Fusion 12. The file size is 11064573952 bytes.

I've also gone as far as trying to convert it using VirtualBox's VBoxManage with no luck.

Re: I have a 32bit Linux VMDK that has lost some of its support files and no longer opens

a_p_ — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 13:48:09 GMT

What may be worth a try - after backing up the existing "-flat.vmdk" file - is to create a header/descriptor file for it.
You can do this using e.g. http://web.archive.org/web/20120101132638/http://forums.phdvirtual.com/wrapgen.

André

Re: I have a 32bit Linux VMDK that has lost some of its support files and no longer opens

continuum — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 19:33:51 GMT

Try this vmdk descriptorfile: - fix name of the flat.vmdk

# Disk DescriptorFile
version=1
CID=fffffffe
parentCID=ffffffff
createType="monolithicFlat"

# Extent description
RW 21610496 FLAT "test-flat.vmdk" 0

# The Disk Data Base
#DDB

ddb.virtualHWVersion = "8"