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Open-source tool aims to restore access to VMware virtual disk migration
Cloud architect Andrija Panić has released OpenVDDK, an open-source tool designed to replace a VMware library that the company recently restricted to partners. The change matters because backup and migration software used VDDK to read virtual disks, making it harder for customers and VMware rivals to move or protect their data.
Written from scratch in Go with a C interface compatible with VMware’s library, OpenVDDK can read disks but cannot write them. Panić says it has been tested with vSphere versions 6.7 U3, 7.0.3, 8.0.3 and 9.1.1, and users have reported successful migrations with several tools, including in production; those reports are not independently audited. Other alternatives include OpenNebula’s OneSwap, which claims a 96 per cent success rate, and a VDDK-free version of Nutanix Move.
In short
- VMware restricted public access to its virtual disk library.
- OpenVDDK offers a read-only, open-source replacement.
- Users report successful migrations, including production use.
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The case for
Supporters can argue that restricting VDDK to partners makes it harder for customers to back up and migrate their own data, so an open-source replacement helps preserve choice and reduce dependence on VMware. OpenVDDK’s read-only design and reported compatibility could make it a useful, transparent option, while other alternatives show that customers have a broader interest in keeping migration tools available.
The case against
A cautious view is that a newly released, independently unaudited tool should not yet be treated as a dependable replacement for a supported vendor library, especially for production backups and migrations where failures can be costly. Its inability to write disks also limits what it can do, and VMware could argue that restricting access to VDDK lets it manage support, compatibility and security risks through partner channels.
Explained simply
VMware makes software that businesses use to run virtual computers on physical servers. Each virtual computer stores its data in a virtual disk, which backup and migration tools need to read when copying or protecting it.
For years, some of those tools relied on VMware’s Virtual Disk Development Kit, or VDDK. VMware has restricted access to the library to partners, which can affect customers and companies offering competing services.
OpenVDDK is a community-developed alternative that can read VMware virtual disks, but not write to them. Its release sits alongside other migration options, as organisations consider how to move or safeguard data in VMware systems.
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Originally published by The Register as “Architect creates open-source replacement for VM migration tool VMware has hidden”.