# Install vmdktool with Homebrew, MacPorts Converts raw filesystems to VMDK files and vice versa. Version 1.4 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:vmdktool ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install vmdktool ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install vmdktool ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/vmdktool/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:vmdktool - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.4 - **Source summary:** Converts raw filesystems to VMDK files and vice versa - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-2-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - vmdktool (cli) - vmdktool (alias) ## Build dependencies - groff ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.4 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://manned.org/vmdktool - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** vmdktool - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - vmdktool: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/vmdktool/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Matched curated package taxonomy and local package facts. - [groff](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/groff/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libosinfo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libosinfo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [lume](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lume/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [nemu](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nemu/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [osinfo-db-tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/osinfo-db-tools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [qemu](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/qemu/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [virt-manager](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/virt-manager/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [lima](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lima/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [rvvm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rvvm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, virtualization. - [e2tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/e2tools/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, disk, files, filesystem, filesystems. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/vmdktool.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/vmdktool.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph