: Use the command line to mount the partition to a local directory (e.g., /mnt/vmfs ).
Even with third-party tools, mounting a VMFS 6 volume in Windows is intended for , not for running active workloads.
VMFS 6 is a highly optimized, cluster file system designed by VMware for ESXi hosts. It features advanced metadata structures, automatic space reclamation (UNMAP), and support for 4K native storage sectors.
: This is one of the few tools with explicit support for VMFS 6 . It can mount a VMFS volume as a virtual disk in Windows Explorer, allowing you to browse and copy files as if they were on a standard NTFS drive. mount vmfs 6 windows hot
VMFS Recovery™ - repair VMDK, VMDK recovery tool. ESX/ESXi recovery | DiskInternals
To help me tailor the exact commands or software recommendations for your project, please let me know a few details about your setup:
Locate the connected mass storage device under the detected hardware list. : Use the command line to mount the
Connect the physical VMFS 6 drive to your Windows host machine. Open on Windows. Edit your Linux VM settings and choose Add Hard Disk .
: Run wsl --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE1 --bare in an administrative terminal to attach the raw disk to your Linux subsystem.
Run your mounting tool (CMD, PowerShell, or the software) . VMFS access requires raw disk handle privileges. VMFS Recovery™ - repair VMDK, VMDK recovery tool
For IT professionals and enterprises, the VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK) is the sanctioned API for programmatic access to virtual disk files, including those on VMFS datastores. It's the technology behind many enterprise backup and recovery tools.
: This is the most robust tool for VMFS 6. It can reach over iSCSI or FC connections to scan the "hot" LUN and allow you to mount it as a local drive letter in Windows.