Hi,
I'd like to introduce OpenVDDK, an open-source library I've been building.
OpenVDDK is an independent implementation of VixDiskLib, the virtual disk library in VMware's VDDK 8.0.3, for Linux x86-64. It is a drop-in replacement. It builds as libvixDiskLib.so.8.0.3 (with the usual .so.8 and .so links) and has the same C interface. Programs written for VixDiskLib, such as nbdkit's VDDK plugin and virt-v2v, load it in place of VMware's library without any source changes.
What it supports today:
vSphere 6.7, 7.0 and 8.0 (tested on 6.7 U3, 7.0.3 and 8.0.3), through vCenter or by connecting directly to an ESXi host, including a standalone host without vCenter
HotAdd, NBDSSL and NBD transports (hotadd:nbdssl:nbd); HotAdd is used through vCenter
Linux x86-64 with glibc 2.28 or newer
All 43 public functions of VixDiskLib 8.0.3, with the same SONAME and symbol versions as VMware's library
It is read-only by design: it reads virtual disks and does not write to them.
OpenVDDK is past its initial testing phase. Independent companies and individuals have validated it with their own tools:
Forklift, migrating from VMware to KubeVirt, cold and warm
Migration Toolkit for Virtualization (MTV) on OpenShift, cold and warm
a VMware to Proxmox VE migration pipeline
custom migration tools built on nbdkit's VDDK plugin
V2K Migrate, migrating from VMware to Apache CloudStack
It is already in production use. A German cloud provider has migrated a large production file server with V2K Migrate, and at least one US-based company is using it to migrate off VMware to Apache CloudStack with KVM. It is ready for end-user testing and production use.
OpenVDDK is released under the Apache License 2.0, so you are free to use, modify, fork and redistribute it, including in commercial products.
Source code, documentation and how to report issues: https://github.com/openvddk/openvddk
More technical information, including performance improvements: https://openvddk.com
If it could be useful for your work, I'd be glad to hear your feedback.
OpenVDDK is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by VMware or Broadcom.
Andrija
