VM disk is not recognized

[roslui12]

Hello,

Good morning everyone, hoping you are in good health. Today I am writing to ask for help. I have a xxxxx-flat.vmdk disk, I would like to restore this vm, but it does not recognize me as a disk. How could I subtract the disk from the page with extension -flat.vmdk?

[nachogonzalez]

Hi, how are you?
-flat.vmdk are an abstraction of the data plates of a hard drive. on a -flat.vmdk file you will find all the data stored, but those are useless without the .vmdk pointer file.
Can you please post a screenshot of the VM folder or an output of running ls -al via ssh to the vm directory?

WArm regards

[continuum]

The vmdk descriptorfile is missing..

Post the size in bytes and last vmware.log and I create it for you.

[roslui12]

Hello, thank you very much for responding. Here is a screenshot. Only 3 files appear, the rest were deleted after restarting my dedicated server

[roslui12]

Hello, thank you very much I only have these 3 files inside my vm, the rest disappeared after restarting my dedicated server.

[nachogonzalez]

Could you please post the steps on how to restore the vmdk? interesting to know how.

[nachogonzalez]

as continuum said, the vmdk pointer is missing and will have to be restored, maybe he can assist with that one.

[continuum]

To create a new vmdk descriptor from scratch you use this sample:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

encoding="UTF-8"

CID=fffffffe

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="vmfs"

# Extent description

RW <size of flat-vmdk in sectors>  VMFS "full path to flat.vmdk"

# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "size in sectors / 16065 rounded down"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Then you edit the 3 red items.

1. <size of flat-vmdk in sectors>

in your case that is 107374182400 / 512 = 20971520

2. path to the flat.vmdk

in your case that is 192.100.157.212-flat.vmdk

3.size in sectors / 16065 rounded down

in your case that is 20971520 / 16065 = 1305

So the final result is:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

encoding="UTF-8"

CID=fffffffe

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="vmfs"

# Extent description

RW 20971520  VMFS "192.100.157.212-flat.vmdk"

# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "1305"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[nachogonzalez]

Thanks bud!

[nachogonzalez]

roslui12Check above continuum answer.

Please mark it as useful is the issue is solved. 

[continuum]

By the way - please do NOT follow the advice in the VMware Knowledgebase on how to create missing descriptor-files.
The workaround described there is more work and it makes recovery of lost flat.vmdks way harder than necessary.

[roslui12]

Thank you very much for your reply, I am new to this.

I must create a file with the extension 198.100.157.212.vmdk

Then I enter the content:

# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

encoding="UTF-8"

CID=fffffffe

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="vmfs"

# Extent description

RW <size of flat-vmdk in sectors>  VMFS "full path to flat.vmdk"

# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "size in sectors / 16065 rounded down"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Then you edit the 3 red items.

1. <size of flat-vmdk in sectors>

in your case that is 107374182400 / 512 = 20971520

2. path to the flat.vmdk

in your case that is 192.100.157.212-flat.vmdk

3.size in sectors / 16065 rounded down

in your case that is 20971520 / 16065 = 1305

So the final result is:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

encoding="UTF-8"

CID=fffffffe

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="vmfs"

# Extent description

RW 20971520  VMFS "192.100.157.212-flat.vmdk"

# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "1305"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

That's right? sorry but i am new to this

[continuum]

sorry have to send from iphone as I cant reach the forum with my pc.

yes - create new file with the name you mentioned and populate it with the  edited version of the sample

[nachogonzalez]

open an ssh session to the host

touch 198.100.157.212.vmdk (on the directory of 198.100.157.212 vm)
vi 198.100.157.212.vmdk
type i

copy this

# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

encoding="UTF-8"

CID=fffffffe

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="vmfs"

# Extent description

RW 20971520  VMFS "192.100.157.212-flat.vmdk"

# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "1305"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

hit escape key
type :wq

and you should be done

[continuum]

or for those users without masochistic tendencies - just use the embedded editor of winscp

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

Yet another option is to unzip the attached .zip archive, and upload the .vmdk file to the VM's folder. 😉

André

PS: continuum​

There's a "0" (zero) missing in your calculation,.

1. <size of flat-vmdk in sectors>

in your case that is 107374182400 / 512 = 20971520 --> 209715200

2. path to the flat.vmdk

in your case that is 192.100.157.212-flat.vmdk

3.size in sectors / 16065 rounded down

in your case that is 20971520 / 16065 = 1305 --> 13054

[continuum]

oops

thats the price for having to post from a phone

[roslui12]

I have already created the file, now it tells me how I can register the virtual machine? How can I create the .vmx file?

[nachogonzalez]

I suggest you create a new virtual machine (from vcenter or esxi GUI) and when it comes to creating the disks hit select existing disk and point to the new created .vmdk file

[roslui12]

Hello,

I have created a new vm, I have put the option to add existing hard drive / hard drive.

I select the folder where the content is but it comes out blank.