install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install vmdktool

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install vmdktool

MacPorts ports tree · sysutils/vmdktool/Portfile · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Converts raw filesystems to VMDK files and vice versa

Project links

Commands and aliases

vmdktool

history

Project history and usage

vmdktool is a small Unix command-line utility for converting raw filesystem or disk images to VMware VMDK files and back again, and for inspecting VMDK table information. Its own manual frames it as a practical image-construction tool rather than a general virtualization suite.

Project history

The vmdktool manual says Brian Somers originally wrote the program in 2009 after being unable to find free tools for creating VMDK files. The same history section says it was used and fixed at companies where the author worked before being released publicly in 2012, after which support was added for the VMDK format update from version 1.1 to version 5.0.

How it is used

Typical use is direct and file-oriented: inspect an image with `vmdktool -i`, convert a raw filesystem image to a stream-optimized VMDK with `-v`, or extract raw data from a VMDK with random-access or streaming modes. The manual examples show using the tool in image-editing workflows where a VMDK is unpacked, mounted, modified, and repacked.

Why package nerds care

For package users, vmdktool is notable because it occupies the narrow gap between raw disk-image manipulation and full virtualization products. It is the kind of tiny sysadmin utility that becomes useful in automated VM image pipelines, especially where a free, scriptable VMDK converter is preferred over a vendor GUI.

Timeline

2009: Brian Somers writes vmdktool to fill a free-tooling gap for creating VMDK files.
2012: vmdktool is released to the general public.
2012: Support is added for the VMDK specification update from version 1.1 to version 5.0.

Sources

FreeBSD vmdktool manual: https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=vmdktool&sektion=8&manpath=FreeBSD+Ports+15.0
vmdktool manual source mirror with HISTORY section: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/glennmatthews/vmdktool/master/vmdktool.8

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`vmdktool`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version1.4

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://manned.org/vmdktool

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://manned.org/vmdktoolnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:vmdktool
Version	1.4
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/vmdktool
Homepage	https://manned.org/vmdktool
Repository	https://github.com/awfulhak/vmdktool
Upstream docs	https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=vmdktool&sektion=8&manpath=FreeBSD+Ports+15.0
License	BSD-2-Clause
Source archive	https://people.freebsd.org/~brian/vmdktool/vmdktool-1.4.tar.gz
Build dependencies	groff
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	vmdktool
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

MacPorts95%

vmdktool

sudo port install vmdktool

normalized package name match
Matched by: Vmdktool

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/vmdktool/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/vmdktool.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install vmdktool with Homebrew, MacPorts