VMFS5, for example, stores its file system descriptor in the first 1 MB of the partition. The superblock magic number is 0x4B4C4E46 (ASCII "KLNF" for Kernel Linked File System? Actually, VMFS magic is often 0x5a4d4653 — "ZMFS" in little-endian). Search for these bytes using xxd or a hex editor like HxD .
When TestDisk finds a VMFS partition, it will show the start sector, end sector, and size. If this matches your lost datastore, simply select [Write] to restore the partition entry. recover deleted vmfs partition
But let this be a lesson: in the datacenter, the most dangerous button is the one marked "Delete." Know your tools, test your recovery process, and always, always double-check your target. VMFS5, for example, stores its file system descriptor
Have a VMFS recovery war story? Share it in the comments below. Search for these bytes using xxd or a hex editor like HxD