The VMware®
Virtual Disk Development Kit Programming Guide
introduces the Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK) and the vSphere
Storage APIs – Data Protection (VADP). For VDDK it describes how to develop
software using a virtual disk library that provides a set of system-call style
interfaces for managing virtual disks on ESXi hosts. For VADP it describes how
to write backup and restore software that can be managed by vCenter Server® for
vSphere.
To view this version or previous versions of this
book and other public VMware API and SDK documentation, go to
http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/sdk_pubs.html.
Revision
History
Revision History
summarizes the significant changes in each version of this guide.
Revision History
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2018-10-16
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For vSphere 6.7 Update 1, enhancements to
VixMntapi library on Linux, more OS support.
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2018-04-17
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For vSphere 6.7, async NBD, query allocated
blocks, Improved Virtual Disk, vTPM, phone home.
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2017-03-09
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Added section to best
practices about backing up and restoring encrypted virtual disks.
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2017-01-11
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Corrections regarding 2TB virtual disk limits,
more about ESXi connections.
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2016-11-15
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Final version for VDDK 6.5. New support for
encryption, NBDSSL compression, and VSS extensions.
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2016-03-25
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Removed statement that
disks not associated with a virtual machine can be mounted.
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2016-02-02
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Fallback to NBDSSL, SCSI
order for disk mount, no linked clone SAN restore, EUC non-support.
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2015-07-13
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Clarified connection port
and RAID support, more whitelist details, added Linux freeze and thaw.
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2015-05-05
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Documented whitelist and
blacklist for device path selection, corrected install procedures.
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2014-12-26
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Final version for VDDK
6.0. Virtual volumes support. SSL certificate checking now mandatory.
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2014-04-08
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VDDK 5.5.1 supports GPT.
Snapshot quiesce and memory are incompatible. Describe VMDK version 3.
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2013-11-08
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Fixed several errors
involving roles and licensing, physical or virtual proxy, and log level.
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2013-10-14
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Corrections regarding
32-bit Windows and PackageCode. Removed Reparent and Combine APIs.
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2013-09-22
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Final version for the
vSphere 5.5 release, with new chapter on vApp backup for vCloud Director.
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2012-12-21
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Bug fix version of the
vSphere 5.1 manual: numeric change ID policy, mount restrictions.
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2012-10-05
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Final version of this
manual for the vSphere 5.1 release.
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2011-11-18
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Bug fix version for 4Q
2011 refresh of the VMware vSphere Documentation Center.
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2011-08-22
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Final version for the
VDDK 5.0 release, subsuming
Designing Backup Solutions
technical note.
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2010-10-12
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Bug fix revision for the
VDDK 1.2.1 release
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2010-08-05
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Version for vSphere 4.1
and the VDDK 1.2 public release.
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2009-05-29
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Final version for the
VDDK 1.1 public release.
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2008-04-11
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Updated version for
release 1.0 of the Virtual Disk Development Kit.
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2008-01-31
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Initial version of the
Virtual Disk Development Kit for partner release.
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Intended
Audience
This guide is intended for developers who are
creating applications that manage virtual storage, especially backup and
restore applications. It assumes knowledge of C and C++ programming. For VADP
development, this guide assumes knowledge of Java.
Supported Platform
Products
You can develop VDDK programs using either Linux
or Windows, and test them using VMware Workstation or ESXi and vSphere. To
develop and test VADP programs, you need a vCenter Server and ESXi hosts,
preferably with shared cluster storage.
Document
Feedback
VMware welcomes your suggestions for improving
our developer documentation. Send your feedback to
[email protected].