VMware virtual machine inaccessible? Find out how to fix it!

Here you will find out:

• why VMware VM is inaccessible

• how to fix that issue

• how DiskInternals VMFS Recovery can help you with VM backups

Are you ready? Let's read!

Signs of being inaccessible VM VMware

Look out for the following symptoms to make sure that VMware VM is inaccessible:

Why VMware virtual machines become inaccessible

This usually happens due to a failure of the virtual machine configuration files; the cause may also be in the file system or in a damaged disk.

If the storage is online, then VMware VM being inaccessible is likely due to a network failure.

Therefore, depending on the reason, the decision may be different. What precisely it will be discussed below.

Case 1. VMware VM is inaccessible due to configuration files' failure

Here is how you can fix it:

• Fix the configuration files manually. For that, you need to check for text files with VM parameters and try to recreate the VM using the damaged VM disk. Watch out! Doing this improperly may damage your data.

• Retrieving virtual machine data using DiskInternals VMFS Recovery™ and re-creating the VM after that.

Before you reset VMWare virtual machine, use VMFS Recovery! What do you need to know about VMFS Recovery™? This program works with vSphere 3.5 - 6.5 and ESX/ESXi Server. You can easily use it on all versions of Windows, starting from version 7. There is also a free version of VMFS Recovery™; after downloading it, you can use all the functions that are available in the paid version. Of course, VMFS Recovery™ supports Unicode file names and multi-level folders. This application is professional-quality and superior to its counterparts, partly due to the consideration of both positive and negative user comments.

Use the following step-by-step guide to recover data from VMware server (learn about VMWare vs Vbox recovery here)  with an inaccessible virtual machine with the help of the recommended program.

1. 1. Download and install the application. Then select one way to open the drive:

• Remove Windows with ESX/ESXi from the external drive

• Connect the VMFS drive to another Windows computer

• Make a network connection using the SSH, iSCSI, or Fiber Channel Interface

1. 2. Disk scan with VHD recovery software. This process will require a lot of time.

1. 3. Find the correct VMDK file. Next, as a disk image, mount this file with the extension .vmdk.

1. 4. Open the file you created recently and click the Scan button to make sure everything went well.

1. 5. Preview. Select any file or a specific file; right-click on it. Now select the Preview option. After that, you will be completely sure that the file will be restored correctly.

1. 6. Saving. To do this, you need a license and a license key, which can be purchased on the official DiskInternals website.

Case 2. VMware VM is inaccessible due to disk's or FS failure

Here is how you can fix a VMware virtual machine being inaccessible in this case:

Case 3. VMware VM is inaccessible due to network failure

Here's what you can do with this issue: