On supported Windows operating systems, the preferred method of accessing shared disks is to use the Dynamic Disk Tool (provided with the vSphere Agent). The Dynamic Disk Tool is required or especially useful in the following cases:
•Windows dynamic disks. If the shared VMDK is a Windows dynamic disk, you must use the Dynamic Disk Tool to access all files and folders on the disk. If you do not use the Dynamic Disk Tool, not all data will be accessible.
•Windows VMs with multiple disks and partitions. The Dynamic Disk Tool mounts all disks and partitions from a VM with Windows basic and dynamic disks.
•Windows files and folders with advanced permissions. If you restore a file using the Dynamic Disk Tool and copy the file using an advanced copy utility or the appropriate switches, advanced permissions on the file are retained. Advanced permissions are not retained on files and folders if you access the files or folders using the UNC path outside of the Dynamic Disk Tool. Instead, the user copying the data from the shared VMDK becomes the file owner.
When you share a VMDK, a message indicates if the shared VMDK is a Windows dynamic disk. You can then run the Dynamic Disk Tool on any supported Windows operating system on a VM or in a disaster recovery environment where you want to restore files.
After accessing a shared VMDK using the Dynamic Disk tool, you can copy the files you want to restore.
Note: You can only use the Dynamic Disk tool on supported Windows operating systems.
To access files and folders using a Dynamic Disk Tool mount:
1. Share a VMDK from a VM backup. See Share a VMDK from a vSphere backup.
When the disk is shared, a UNC path appears in the Path field.
2. Start the Dynamic Disk Tool by double-clicking the Dynamic Disk Tool shortcut on the desktop.
The UNC Share screen appears.
3. In the Path to the UNC Share field, enter the UNC path from the Portal. Click Next.
The Virtual Drive Mounting screen shows drive letters for mapping each virtual disk and disk partition from the protected VM. Each virtual disk and partition is labeled with “Partition” and a number.
Note: The drive letter for each disk is obtained from the available drive letters on the system where you are restoring files. If you run out of available drives on the system, the tool will not map any more drives.
4. For each disk and partition that you want to map as a different drive letter, choose a drive letter from the drop-down list.
5. For each partition that you do not want to mount as a mapped drive, choose “none” from the drive letter drop-down list.
6. Click Mount.
The Mount Status screen shows the drive letter where each protected virtual disk and partition is mapped. You can then copy the files you want to restore from each mapped drive.