Here's a step-by-step guide to mounting a VMFS 6 datastore on a Windows system using VMFS Tools:

If the goal is to access data from a VMFS 6 datastore, directly mounting it on Windows is often unnecessary and risky (due to potential metadata corruption).

The software will allow you to browse the datastore and copy files ( .vmdk , .vmx ) to a local Windows NTFS/ReFS volume. Method 2: Java-based VMFS Tools (Advanced)

: VMFS is designed for multi-host access with specific locking mechanisms. Windows does not understand these locks and could easily corrupt the volume if it attempts to write to it. Summary Checklist for Mounting Windows Native Third-Party Tools Linux (vmfs6-tool) VMFS 6 Support Hot Connection ✅ Yes (iSCSI/FC) Read/Write ⚠️ Read Only ⚠️ Read Only Ease of Use

: Most third-party tools provide only read-only access to VMFS volumes. This is by design—writing directly to VMFS from a non-VMware operating system can corrupt the file system.

At the rack, the affected host—an aging box with a newer sticker—was warm to the touch. Dante logged into the vSphere client and saw the datastore greyed out. The host had claimed the VMFS but failed to present it cleanly. He could detach and reattach the storage adapter, but that risked interrupting other tenants. He preferred a surgical approach.

Passmark’s OSFMount can mount disk images, but you need a VMFS driver. A community-developed tool, (by Zertodata), works with OSFMount.

For users needing a "hot" mount without a dedicated ESXi host, the vmfs6-tools utility is the standard open-source approach. Prepare the Environment

Mounting a VMFS 6 datastore on a Windows system can be a complex process, but it's achievable using the right tools and software solutions. By following the steps outlined in this article and using a supported tool, you can hot mount a VMFS 6 datastore on a Windows system and access the data you need. Whether you're recovering data, backing up a datastore, or migrating to a different virtualization platform, this article should provide you with the information and guidance you need to succeed.