Flat.vmdk File [upd] Official

: While you see one "disk" in the vSphere inventory, the datastore actually holds two files: [VM_Name].vmdk (the small descriptor) and [VM_Name]-flat.vmdk (the large data file).

One of the most common issues administrators face is a "missing" virtual disk where only the -flat.vmdk remains. If the small descriptor file is accidentally deleted or corrupted, the virtual machine will fail to power on because it "doesn't know" how to read the raw data. flat.vmdk file

Understanding the flat.vmdk File: The Engine of VMware Virtual Disks : While you see one "disk" in the