Note: If you are using , you might see a -sesparse.vmdk or just the standard .vmdk growing over time instead of a static -flat.vmdk . The -flat extension is typical for "Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed" or "Thick Provision Eager Zeroed" disks.
In many VMware environments (like vSphere/ESXi), a "virtual disk" is actually a pair of files: vmware flat file
If you have ever browsed a VMware datastore (VMFS) or looked inside a folder containing virtual machine files, you have likely stumbled upon a massive file with the extension alongside another file ending in -flat.vmdk . Note: If you are using , you might see a -sesparse
A VMware ( *-flat.vmdk ) is the raw data component of a virtual machine's disk. While the standard .vmdk file is often just a small text-based descriptor, the flat file is the heavy hitter containing the actual binary data of the guest operating system and applications. Core Function and Structure A VMware ( *-flat