Virtual Data Recovery Software: A Complete Guide

Data recovery is done on any disk, whether it is a virtual disk or a physical disk, you just need the right software program. However, virtual machine data recovery requires the use of a professional and reliable software solution, to ensure not only an efficient recovery but also for the originality of the recovered data to be retained. Interestingly, there are a number of virtual data recovery software programs to try out, but this article focuses on explaining how to go about the entire process of recovering from a virtual disk – using a professional software solution.

Key Features of Virtual Data Recovery Software

When looking for virtual data recovery software to keep handy for virtual disk data recovery and repair purposes, there are core features to look out for on the software. These features are explained below:

• Multi-Format Support: the software must support multiple virtual disk formats, including popular ones like VMDK, VHD, VHDX, and VDI.
• Repair Virtual Disks: Sometimes, what a virtual disk needs is to get repaired. Your choice of virtual data recovery software should have the option for repairing corrupt virtual disks.
• Support Multiple File System: Your preferred recovery software must support multiple filesystems, including NTFS, VMFS, and Btrfs.

Snapshot Support: Virtual machines support snapshots, which are stored in the virtual disk and datastore. It is important to choose a virtual data recovery software that supports snapshot recovery too.

Best Virtual Data Recovery Software Tools

Here are our best hand-picked virtual disk recovery software programs to run on Windows and Linux computers.

EaseUS Data Recovery for Virtual Disks

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a versatile data recovery tool designed for a broad range of recovery scenarios, including recovering data from virtual disks. Its user-friendly interface, broad device compatibility, and simple recovery process have made it a popular choice for both personal and professional use. While it is more of a general-purpose tool, EaseUS does offer certain features for recovering data from virtual environments, such as VMDK and VHD files, though it lacks the deep VMware-specific features of DiskInternals VMFS Recovery.

Key Features of EaseUS Data Recovery for Virtual Disks

1. 1. Support for Virtual Disk Formats (VMDK, VHD, and VHDX). EaseUS Data Recovery supports a wide array of virtual disk formats, including VMDK (used by VMware) and VHD/VHDX (used by Microsoft Hyper-V). This makes it suitable for organizations that work with multiple virtualization platforms. However, the recovery process for virtual disk data is more generalized, and not tailored specifically to VMware environments, which may limit its effectiveness in certain VMFS-related issues.
2. 2. Simple, Intuitive User Interface. The hallmark of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is its user-friendly interface. The software is designed to cater to non-technical users, making it easy to recover lost or deleted virtual disk data with just a few clicks. The streamlined recovery process offers a smooth experience but may lack the advanced options that a VMware specialist might need.
3. 3. File Type Flexibility. Like DiskInternals, EaseUS can recover a variety of file types, from documents to multimedia and application data. However, it does not specialize in virtual machine environments as DiskInternals VMFS Recovery does, which means the recovery algorithms are more generalized, potentially leading to less precise recoveries for complex VMware-specific data structures.
4. 4. Wide Compatibility Across Systems. EaseUS Data Recovery is compatible with a broad range of systems and devices, making it a versatile tool for recovering data from desktops, laptops, external hard drives, and virtual disks. However, it lacks dedicated features for dealing with VMFS partitions, limiting its ability to recover data from corrupt or damaged VMware environments.
5. 5. Preview of Recoverable Data. Before initiating the final recovery, EaseUS allows users to preview the files that can be recovered. This feature is helpful in ensuring the desired files are found before committing to the recovery, but it’s common across many data recovery tools, including DiskInternals.
6. 6. Basic RAID Recovery. While EaseUS can perform data recovery on some RAID configurations, it does not offer the advanced RAID-specific recovery tools found in DiskInternals VMFS Recovery. This means it is less suitable for complex RAID environments, which are frequently found in enterprise virtual machine setups.

EaseUS Data Recovery vs. DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: Detailed Comparison

1. Specialization in VMware Environments

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: Specifically designed to recover data from VMware VMFS file systems, making it ideal for environments where VMware ESXi, vSphere, and vCenter are deployed. It offers specialized algorithms to handle VMFS corruption and failures, giving it an edge in handling VMware-specific scenarios.
• EaseUS Data Recovery: Although capable of recovering virtual disk files like VMDK, it is not optimized for VMware environments. It focuses on general-purpose recovery, making it less effective for VMware-specific tasks, especially when dealing with VMFS file systems.

2. Recovery from RAID Configurations

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: Supports advanced RAID recovery, including complex RAID arrays like RAID 5, RAID 6, and even hybrid RAID setups. It can handle failures that involve virtual machines on RAID storage, making it suitable for large-scale virtual infrastructures with robust storage architectures.
• EaseUS Data Recovery: Offers only basic RAID recovery capabilities, which may be sufficient for simpler RAID configurations (e.g., RAID 0, RAID 1). However, it struggles with more advanced RAID levels, particularly those involving VMware environments.

3. Support for VMFS 5 and VMFS 6

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: Fully supports the recovery of data from VMFS 5 and VMFS 6 file systems, the two most commonly used file systems for VMware environments. This gives it unparalleled access and recovery ability for enterprises running these VMware systems.
• EaseUS Data Recovery: Does not specifically support VMFS partitions, limiting its use in VMware environments. While it can recover data from VMDK files stored on accessible virtual disks, it cannot recover data from corrupt or inaccessible VMFS partitions.

4. Deep Scan and Partition Recovery

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: Performs deep scans on VMFS partitions to recover data from damaged, formatted, or deleted virtual disks. Its focus on sector-level scanning ensures it can reconstruct lost or damaged VMs with precision.
• EaseUS Data Recovery: Provides a deep scan feature, but it is more generalized for various file systems and does not perform the sector-by-sector scan necessary for recovering heavily fragmented or damaged VMFS data.

5. Ease of Use

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: While powerful, it also provides a user-friendly recovery wizard, which is particularly useful for IT professionals managing complex virtual infrastructures. It’s more technical in nature compared to EaseUS, providing options to customize the recovery process for better results.
• EaseUS Data Recovery: Focuses on ease of use with a highly intuitive interface, making it more accessible for non-technical users. However, the simplified interface sacrifices some of the advanced features and flexibility offered by DiskInternals VMFS Recovery.

6. Cost and Licensing

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: As an enterprise-grade tool, DiskInternals VMFS Recovery is priced accordingly for businesses and IT departments handling critical virtual infrastructures. The cost reflects the specialized features aimed at complex VMFS recovery.
• EaseUS Data Recovery: More affordable and geared toward individual users or small businesses. It offers flexible licensing plans but lacks the enterprise-grade, virtualization-specific capabilities found in DiskInternals.

Rocket Virtual Data Recovery

Rocket Virtual Data Recovery is a relatively newer player in the virtual data recovery market, designed to handle lost or corrupted data from virtual machines. While not as well-established as some of the other tools, Rocket focuses on simplifying the recovery process for virtual environments, offering support for common virtual machine file formats such as VMDK and VHD/VHDX. It targets small to medium businesses looking for an accessible recovery solution, but lacks some of the advanced features offered by more specialized tools like DiskInternals VMFS Recovery.

Key Features of Rocket Virtual Data Recovery

1. 1. Support for Common Virtual Disk Formats. Rocket Virtual Data Recovery supports the recovery of data from the most widely used virtual disk formats, including VMDK (VMware), VHD/VHDX (Hyper-V), and VirtualBox disk images. It provides broad compatibility, making it a decent option for environments that use multiple types of virtualization platforms.
2. 2. Simple, User-Friendly Interface. Rocket emphasizes ease of use with a minimalistic, guided recovery process. The interface is intuitive, designed for non-technical users or IT generalists who need a quick and effective way to recover virtual machine data without going deep into technical settings.
3. 3. Fast Recovery Process. Rocket Virtual Data Recovery is designed for speed. It aims to quickly scan and recover lost or deleted virtual machine data with minimal downtime, though it may not perform as well in complex or highly corrupted environments compared to more advanced tools like DiskInternals.
4. 4. Basic RAID Recovery. The software provides basic RAID recovery capabilities, but it is limited to simpler RAID configurations such as RAID 0 and RAID 1. It does not support more complex RAID setups, making it less suitable for enterprise environments that rely on RAID 5, RAID 6, or RAID 10 for data redundancy.
5. 5. Recovery from Deleted or Formatted Virtual Disks. Rocket Virtual Data Recovery can recover data from virtual machines that have been accidentally deleted or formatted. However, its scanning algorithms are not as deep or advanced as those found in specialized tools like DiskInternals VMFS Recovery, which may result in lower recovery rates for severely damaged virtual disks.

Rocket Virtual Data Recovery vs. DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: Detailed Comparison

1. Specialization in VMware Environments

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: DiskInternals VMFS Recovery is built specifically for VMware environments, providing advanced recovery features for VMware’s VMFS file systems (VMFS 5 and VMFS 6). It is optimized to recover data from VMware ESXi servers, with specialized algorithms that handle VMFS corruption and failures. This makes it ideal for large-scale deployments with complex VMware infrastructures.
• Rocket Virtual Data Recovery: Rocket focuses on general recovery from virtual disks like VMDK, but it does not specialize in VMware or VMFS file systems. While it can recover virtual disks, it does not have the in-depth capabilities to handle VMFS partition failures or severe corruption in VMware environments.

2. Recovery from RAID Configurations

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: DiskInternals excels in RAID recovery, supporting complex RAID levels such as RAID 0, RAID 5, RAID 6, and even RAID 10. This is crucial for enterprise-level virtual environments where RAID is used to ensure data redundancy and performance.
• Rocket Virtual Data Recovery: Rocket only supports basic RAID configurations, such as RAID 0 and RAID 1, limiting its usefulness in enterprise settings where more advanced RAID setups are commonly deployed. If RAID data recovery is needed for complex RAID setups, Rocket may not be able to deliver the necessary results.

3. VMFS File System Support

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: DiskInternals is built from the ground up to recover data from VMware VMFS file systems, with support for both VMFS 5 and VMFS 6. It can perform deep recovery tasks on VMFS volumes, making it the best tool for VMware ESXi environments.
• Rocket Virtual Data Recovery: Rocket does not support VMFS partitions, making it less effective for VMware-specific recovery. It can recover VMDK files, but cannot handle the intricacies of VMFS file system failures, which are often critical in VMware environments.

4. Deep Scan and Advanced Recovery Algorithms

• DiskInternals VMFS Recovery: DiskInternals performs deep sector-level scans, allowing it to recover data from severely corrupted or fragmented VMFS partitions. This advanced scanning ability ensures higher recovery rates, even in cases of extreme corruption or failure.
• Rocket Virtual Data Recovery: Rocket focuses on simplicity and speed, offering quicker scans but lacking the deep recovery algorithms found in DiskInternals. For highly damaged or fragmented virtual disks, Rocket’s recovery rate may be lower compared to the more thorough scans provided by DiskInternals.

Tips for Successful Virtual Data Recovery

Successfully recovering data from virtual environments requires preparation, quick action, and avoiding common mistakes. Here are some essential tips to help ensure a smooth virtual data recovery process:

1. Best Practices for Backing Up VMs

Preventing data loss should always be the first priority. Follow these best practices to ensure your virtual machines (VMs) are properly backed up:

• Regular Automated Backups: Set up regular automated backups using reliable backup software. This ensures that you always have up-to-date snapshots of your virtual machines, minimizing the risk of permanent data loss.
• Offsite and Cloud Backups: Store backups offsite or in the cloud to protect against physical disasters such as hardware failures, fires, or theft. This ensures that even if the local data is compromised, a secure backup exists elsewhere.
• Test Your Backups Regularly: Periodically test your backups to verify they are functioning properly and can be restored when needed. Corrupt or incomplete backups are a major risk, and testing ensures everything is recoverable.
• Backup Both VMs and Configurations: Make sure to back up not just the virtual machine disk files (VMDK, VHDX) but also the VM configurations and network settings. This allows for a full and accurate restoration of the virtual environment.

2. Steps to Take Immediately After Data Loss

If data loss occurs in your virtual environment, it’s important to act quickly and cautiously to maximize the chances of a successful recovery:

• Stop Writing to the Affected Disk: Immediately halt any new data writes to the affected storage, as this can overwrite the deleted or lost data, making recovery more difficult or impossible.
• Isolate the Virtual Machine: If possible, isolate the affected VM to prevent further operations that could cause additional damage. This can be done by pausing or shutting down the VM.
• Create a Clone or Snapshot: Before attempting any recovery, create a snapshot or clone of the affected virtual disk to preserve the current state. This allows you to attempt recovery without risking further data loss.
• Use Specialized Recovery Software: Deploy virtual data recovery software such as DiskInternals VMFS Recovery or other tools based on the virtual environment you are using. Choose software tailored to your virtual machine format and file system for the best results.

3. Avoiding Common Recovery Mistakes

Recovering from virtual data loss can be tricky, and there are several common mistakes to avoid:

• Using General Data Recovery Software: Not all data recovery software is equipped to handle virtual machine files or VMFS partitions. Ensure you use tools specifically designed for virtual environments.
• Attempting DIY Recovery on Critical Systems: For enterprise environments, it's crucial to involve IT professionals or specialists when recovering data from critical virtual machines. DIY attempts can sometimes cause more harm than good, especially with RAID setups or complex configurations.
• Neglecting to Recover from the Correct Snapshot: When working with virtual machines, ensure you recover from the correct snapshot or backup to avoid restoring an outdated version of the data.
• Not Monitoring the Health of RAID Arrays: If the virtual environment is running on RAID arrays, monitor the health of the RAID regularly. A failed RAID drive can make recovery harder, so ensuring proactive RAID management is key.