Help - deleted vmdk file by accident

[s1m0nb]

Hi

I have stupidly managed to delete a couple of vmdk files - I still have the server-flat.vmdk's however.

Can I recreate the vmdk file somehow?

Thanks - quick response before anyone notices would be appreciated!!

[A13x]

this one worked for me:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100724...

Purpose

Use the VMDK Recovery Tool to:

Create a “block list” of your VMDK files. The block list file is a plain text file that keeps a record of all VMDKs of the virtual machines.

Recover VMDK files if they become deleted, or if the VMFS datastore gets deleted or corrupted.

Limitations

The VMDK Recovery Tool is a utility VMware provides in ESX 3.5 Update 3 as experimental software.

Experimental means that the tool is not supported and might not work as expected in all customer environments.

The tool is not available for ESXi.

You cannot restore from multiple block list files.

[s1m0nb]

Unless I am being thick (which is possible) it appears you need to have run the backup prior to deleting the files? It doesnt recreate them

read block list for /vmfs/volumes/49ec970d-da915e28-bfb6-00215adbb24e/muceav04/DMotion-scsi0:00_muceav04-000001.vmdk

Failed to open virtual disk: The parent of this virtual disk could not be opened 23

Basically I have the flat files (the data) but need to recreate the vmdk file

[ShanVMLand · Accepted solution]

This reference will help you out:

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/73513

Shan

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[s1m0nb]

Ok a little progress but I get a new error in the vmware.log file on startup now. Seems like the snapshot is complaining about the date on the new disks - is it just a case of changing the date?>

Jun 16 15:03:23.684: vmx| DISK: Cannot open disk "/vmfs/volumes/49ec970d-da915e28-bfb6-00215adbb24e/muceav04/DMotion-scsi0:00_muceav04-000003.vmdk": The parent

virtual disk has been modified since the child was created (18).

Any further ideas?

[ShanVMLand]

Looks like your VMX still pointing to a Snapshot. Can you please post your VMX here?

Shan

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[s1m0nb]

So after a little fight with the snapshots - its all back up and running thanks.