verified vmdk has lvm partition (8E)
# vmware-mount -p .vmdk
Nr Start Size Type Id Sytem
-- ---------- ---------- ---- -- ------------------------
1 63 401562 BIOS 83 Linux
2 401625 10072755 BIOS 8E Unknown
mount vmdk
# vmware-mount -f .vmdk
# ls
flat
Get offset of lv partition
# fdisk -lu /mnt/ROOT/flat
You can do this from the extra functions menu.
Disk /mnt/ROOT/flat: 0 MB, 0 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 0 cylinders, total 0 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0006a266
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/mnt/ROOT/flat1 * 63 401624 200781 83 Linux
/mnt/ROOT/flat2 401625 10474379 5036377+ 8e Linux LVM
Calculate the offset
offset = 401625 * 512 # >> 205632000 [1 sectors is 512 bytes]
mount to loop device
# losetup -o 205632000 /dev/loop0 /flat
display info
# pvdisplay /dev/loop0
--- Physical volume ---
PV Name /dev/loop0
VG Name VolGroup00
PV Size 4,80 GB / not usable 22,34 MB
Allocatable yes
PE Size (KByte) 32768
Total PE 153
Free PE 1
Allocated PE 152
PV UUID MUKx5v-ukpq-fJis-GjpB-Z7dE-nIsI-Xr4bYd
# lvscan
ACTIVE '/dev/vg1/isos' [111,79 GB] inherit
ACTIVE '/dev/vg0/root' [10,00 GB] inherit
ACTIVE '/dev/vg0/swap' [8,00 GB] inherit
ACTIVE '/dev/vg0/home' [50,00 GB] inherit
ACTIVE '/dev/vg0/data' [164,41 GB] inherit
inactive '/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00' [4,00 GB] inherit
inactive '/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol01' [768,00 MB] inherit
incase not active, need to activate the lv
# lvchange -ay /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
then, can mount
# mount /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
to deactivate lv
# lvchange -an /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
to release loop device
# losetup -d /dev/loop0
unmount vmware disk
# vmware-mount -d
ref: https://xliska.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/access-lvm2-partition-on-vmware-virtual-disk/