Add Existing Hard Disk Browser Not Showing VMDK File

[ThePieMonster]

System

ESXi-6.5.0-20170702001-standard

Problem

I have a VMDK file (as shown in the first picture) which I am trying to add as the primary hard disk for a new VM.

When I go to select a "existing hard disk" from the browser pop-up and select the Temp folder where the VMDK file is stored, nothing is showing up.

What could be the cause of this?

[continuum]

If datastorebrowser shows a vmdk like that it means that the vmdk-descriptor has a syntax-error or is corrupt.

Attach the descriptor vmdk to your next reply and give us the size of the flat.vmdk in bytes

[KabirAli82]

This only happens when the descriptor files goes missing. Why is the VM called Temp? I'm guessing something when horribly wrong...?

Recreate descriptor:

VMware Knowledge Base

[continuum]

Please do not suggest that Knowledgebase article - that is NOT the best way to recreate a vmdk-descriptorfile.

[ThePieMonster · Accepted solution]

ls -l on datastore Temp folder directory

-rw-r--r--    1 root     root     54760833024 Nov 28 06:03 VM-flat.vmdk

-rw-r--r--    1 root     root           488 Nov 28 07:03 VM.vmdk

Disk Descriptor File

# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

encoding="windows-1252"

CID=b062bf1f

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="vmfs"

# Extent description

RW 106954752 VMFS "VM-modified-flat.vmdk" 0

# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.adapterType = "buslogic"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "6657"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

ddb.longContentID = "ee2e1b74629e496c3a6fca3cb062bf1f"

ddb.thinProvisioned = "1"

ddb.uuid = "60 00 C2 9b be 29 8e 76-ea 4a e0 f9 8e 34 9a cd"

ddb.virtualHWVersion = "4"

As it turns out as I was writing this post, I noticed that the "VM-modified-flat.vmdk" line should actually say "VM-flat.vmdk". After making that edit, the two .vmdk files showed as one .vmdk file with the proper icon in the datastore browser.

[continuum]

There is one more syntax error you have in the descriptor.

You should not have a 0 at the end of the RW line.

Looks like this VMDK was once used as type "monolithicFlat" from Workstation.

[stolmax1]

I am also experiencing this issue and I need help. My VM disappeared and I am trying to attach old vdmk file as a drive to a new vm. In the datastore I see 2 vmdk files, *-000002-delta.vmdk and *-flat.vmdk, but I cannot select them to add them to a new vm. Need urgent help.

Thanks,

Max