Disk File Formats for Virtualization

OR
Virtual Disk File Format

Microsoft is known for the introduction of many new and exciting features with
each new version of Windows OS it launches. With Windows 7, Windows 8,
Windows 8.1, Windows 10, (and Windows Server 2008), it introduced an excellent
means of backup software for storing the important data in the form of Virtual
Hard Disk.
A Virtual Disk or drive is a software component that emulates an actual disk drive,
such as an optical disc, a floppy disk, or a hard disk drive. To other programs, a
virtual disk looks and behaves like an actual physical device. The Advantages of
these virtual hard disk are, host machine can co-exist with several operating
systems, many window partitions can be done , no need of additional hardware
as virtual hard disk is accessed within the host system, easily detached from the
host machine.
Virtual disk come in four file formats that are,
Virtual Hard disk file(VHD)
Hyper-V Hard disk file(VHDX)
Virtual Machine Disk file(VMDK)
Virtual Disk image file(VDI)
What is VHD?
Virtual hard disk (VHD) is file format extension that represents a virtual hard disk.
It is typically used as a hard disk of a virtual machine. The format for created by
Connectix for their Virtual PC product, known as Microsoft Virtual PC since
Microsoft acquired Connectix in 2003. Virtual Hard Disk allows multiple operating
systems to run on a single host machine. This method allow developers to test
software on different operating systems without the cost of installing a second
hard disk or partitioning a single hard disk into multiple volumes or drives. There
is the ability to directly modify a virtual machine's hard disk from a host server
supports many applications, including moving files between a VHD and the host
file system, Patching, Image Management, Anti-virus, Recovery and Backup.

Where VHD files can be used?

VHD was initially used only by Microsoft virtual PC and Microsoft Virtual Servers.
After that Microsoft used the format VHD and make the use of this format in
Complete PC backup, a backup software component which included Window vista
and 7. Many programs recognize the VHD format, that includes Oracles
VirtualBox virtual machine software, which is available for OS X and Linux.
What is VHDX?
VHDX is file format extension that describes the Virtual file format. The X was
added to the current specification so that there is no confusion with the older
VHD format. One of the biggest example of VHDX, when compared with VHD
Format, is the storage capacity. Before Windows Server 2012, Virtual hard disks
had a 2 TB limit but now VHDX files have a 64 TB capacity. The advantages of
VHDX aren't limited to improved capacity but also VHDX files were designed to
work with today's modern hardware. The VHDX format also provides protection
against file corruption related to power failures by continuously keeping track of
updates in the metadata, a feature not available with the VHD format.
Where VHDX files can be used?
The release of Windows Server 2012 brought many new improvement in
virtualization, but the most eye-catching is the VHDX file format. Windows Server
2012 supported the new format but also lets Hyper-V administrators use VHD
format. However, VHDX file can be used by Windows 8+ and Windows Server
2012+, due to very large file format it can't be used by Windows vista and 7 nor
by Oracles VirtualBox virtual machine software.
What is VMDK?
VMDK is a file format extension that acts as containers for the virtual hard disk to
be used in virtual machines like VMware Workstation or VirtualBox. It stores the
content of VMware virtual machine. VMDX is file format specification used by
VMware virtual machine files. One of its main example is that using this file
format, files can be easily moved between the server. Similarly, a single file can be
saved by taking a snapshot of the file. The huge drawback to a single file for

VMDK, it is impossible to recover the corrupted data only a part of data can be
recovered.
Where can VMDK files be used?
VMDK extension file for the virtual machine using VMware virtualization products
or other platforms that support VMDK files such as QEMU, VMware VirtualBox or
Sun XVM.
What is VDI?
VDI file format extension associated with the specification for VirtualBox that is
Virtual Disk Image and stores data in files like .vdi. this file is open platform based
file format that runs on multiple operating systems and developed by Oracle. VDI
is a method to create a image of a virtual machines hard disk to be later used for
disk backup, restoration or copying to a new virtual machine. The VDI captures all
information on the primary disk, typically excluding the operating system files and
the virtual machine itself. Additionally, being a disk image of a virtual hard disk, a
virtual disk image can also refer to the disk image of a CD, DVD or any other
optical disk. We can also say, it can act as a container and stores data in the form
of a image.
Where can VDI files be used?
VDI file format is the platform based Disk File Format that runs on multiple
operating systems, developed by Oracle. Generally, it supports VirtualBox
including, Linux, OSX, Windows.
In computer world, data that are stored or retrieved is controlled by a proper File
System. Without this file system, any information stored in a storage would be
one big body of data with no one can tell where a piece of information stops and
next starts. So, by separating the data into number of pieces and providing each
piece with name, the information is easy to find.
File System which is supported by all the Virtual Hard disk formats are :
Fat(16/32/64), HFS+, EXTX and NTFS.

Sometimes you lost your data by accidents, which must be very important or
some personal data you recover all your data either be it any file format VHD or
VHDX or VMDK or VD, by using the Virtual Disk recovery Tool. And enjoy
backing up your data using any Virtual disk or VMwares which behaves as a
physical disk.
Basically, there are 4 different data recovery software for the different virtual disk
file formats. As the different name, the way of storing data or partitioning of
window is done in different format in or different amount of storing capacity.

SysInfo VHD recovery software

VHD recovery software come for retrieving your inaccessible or corrupt VHD files,
smartly programmed with two mode of scanning. First, Standard Mode which
support GTP format to scan VHD file if corruption is minor and second, Advanced
Mode with custom setting option if VHD file is severely corrupted where standard
mode fails to scan the file. Different VHD file type like fixed and dynamic is
supported by VHD Recovery software. There are different file systems formats
like Fat(16/32/64), HFS+, EXTX and NTFS as discussed earlier, the software has
been tested to recover all the file system as the VHD file is saved by. Software is
highly compatible with all popular Windows-based operating systems. It can
smoothly runs under these Windows versions: Win 98, Win NT, Win 2000, Win
2003, Win XP, Win Vista, Win 7, Win 8 as well as the latest Windows 10 of both 32
& 64-bit.

SysInfo VHDX recovery software

New data recovery tool for new File format. VHDX recovery software come for
retrieving your corrupt VHDX files (same as VHD files but store more amount of
data as compare to the older name.) smartly programmed with powerful recovery
algorithm. This tool also come with two recovery modes, first Standard Mode and
second, Advanced Mode severe corrupted VHDX. Supports corrupt VHDX files
saved in fixed disk and dynamic disk types and also different file systems formats
like Fat(16/32/64), HFS+, EXTX and NTFS. Software is highly compatible with all
popular Windows-based operating systems. It can smoothly run under all
Windows versions of both 32 & 64-bit.

SysInfo VMDK recovery software

Inaccessible VMDK files can be recovered smartly programmed VMDK recovery
software, with tested algorithm which is successful in the restoration of corrupt
VMDK files. Support VMDK files that are saved in Fixed disk and Dynamic disk
types and also files like split, sparse & flat as well as descriptor. If your file is
severely corrupted then you can choose the Advance Mode and for normal you
can go for Standard Mode. Software also support all other file system like HFS+,
EXTX(1,2,3,4), Fat(16/32/64) and NTFS. Software is highly compatible with all
popular Windows-based operating systems. It can smoothly run under all
Windows versions of both 32 & 64-bit.

SysInfo VDI recovery software

Virtual Disk Image files are prone to corruption, and VDI Repair tool is the right
solution. Any sort of corruption to your VDI files which cause inaccessibility, you
should look forward for an amazing recovery solution recommended by
professionals. Support VMDK files that are saved in Fixed disk and Dynamic disk
types and also files like split, sparse & flat as well as descriptor. If your file is
severely corrupted then you can choose the Advance Mode and for normal you
can go for Standard Mode. Software also support all other file system like HFS+,
EXTX(1,2,3,4), Fat(16/32/64) and NTFS. Software is highly compatible with all
popular Windows-based operating systems. It can smoothly run under all
Windows versions of both 32 & 64-bit and Mac or Linux

For more Information visit : https://www.sysinfotools.com/products/virtual-diskrecovery.php