VMware Cloud Community
dborgill
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Rogue .VMDK - Which VM is it attached to?

So we are clearing out datastores and shuffling some VMs. I have a datastore (screenshot attached) where we have a .vmdk in a folder all by itself. It says it was modified a few weeks ago but we have no idea what VM it is attached to.

What is the easiest way to find out if this .vmdk IS attached to any attach and if so, WHICH VM?

Thanks in advance!

Reply
0 Kudos
8 Replies
vmroyale
Immortal
Immortal

Hello.

You can use the free RVTools - the vDisk and vHealth tabs should tell you what you need to know.

Good Luck!

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com
dborgill
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Trying RVTools now.. I will report back.

Reply
0 Kudos
dborgill
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

RVTools rocks! Thank you thank you thank you!

Now... my question is, this VMDK is not showing that it is attached to any VM. Yet it was modified just a few weeks ago.. why would this be? Is there any other ways to see the history of where that VMDK was used or what is was attached to in the past?

Reply
0 Kudos
Wimo
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

The name doesn't give you a clue? arup-gemstone01-clone? (I think that's what it said.) Did you maybe clone a VM and then forget about it?

Reply
0 Kudos
dborgill
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

That is the problem. We have 5 VM admins, one of them quit, nobody has any change record or any idea where that clone came from. I want technology to fix our lack of change management Smiley Happy

Reply
0 Kudos
DSTAVERT
Immortal
Immortal

VCenter keeps historical events. Have a look at http://www.virtu-al.net/2010/02/23/who-created-that-vm/

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
dborgill
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

DST, Thanks for the link. I have PowerCLI installed but I haven't gotten any further than that. Is there a VERY simple tutorial or a way to get familar with it more?

Also, there is no VM inside Virtualcenter named ARUP-GEMSTONE01CLONE anywhere. The only thing left behind at all is that .VMDK. RVTools shows that it could be a zombie .vmdk but there is no .vmx or any other trace of the VM as far as I can see.

Reply
0 Kudos
DSTAVERT
Immortal
Immortal

Probably the best place to start is the Automation tools forum http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/vsphere/automationtools/powercli

LucD has many available scripts. http://www.lucd.info/2009/12/18/events-part-3-auditing-vm-device-changes/

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
Reply
0 Kudos