---
title: "Scan Datastore for Unknown Files Task"
description: "The Scan Datastore for Unknown Files task works as follows: The task scans the datastore to get a list of all available datastore files. The task scans virtual machines in the vSphere inventory to get a list of all registered VM files."
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/mp/vmware_guide/scan_datastore_for_unknown_files.html"
breadcrumb: "Veeam MP for VMware User Guides > Operations Guide > Monitoring with Veeam MP for VMware > Performance Analysis Monitors > Example Performance Analysis Monitors > Scan Datastore for Unknown Files Task"
dateModified: "2026-09-08"
---

# Scan Datastore for Unknown Files Task

The **Scan Datastore for Unknown Files** task works as follows:

1. The task scans the datastore to get a list of all available datastore files. 
2. The task scans virtual machines in the vSphere inventory to get a list of all registered VM files. 
3. The task compares the lists obtained at steps 1 and 2 to reveal a list of ‘unknown’ files. You can see a sample diagnostic output below: 

```
Starting diagnostic scan of Datastore [name] for unknown/garbage files
Excluded extensions: ISO
Skipped file(s) size: 3 ISO files, total 8.4 GB 
Excluded folders: TMP
Skipped folder(s) size: 1 folder(s), 2.03 GB
Calculating known files….
Scanning Datastore….
List of remaining unknown (to vCenter) files on this Datastore:
\temp\unknown.doc, 0.3 GB
\ISO\temp.DB, 1.5 GB
\VM1\spreadsheet.xls, 0.8 GB
Total space used by above unknown files: 2.6 GB
```

You can override the following parameters for the **Scan Datastore for Unknown Files**:

- Timeout Seconds (numeric value, default *3600*);
- Exclude Files (comma-separated list, default **vmft, *-ctk.vmdk, .*vmx~, *scoreboard*);
- Exclude Folders (comma-separated list, default .*vSphere-HA/*, .dvsData*/*);
- Sort Options ("S+", "S-", "N+", "N-", "S-N-", "S+N-", "S-N+", "S+N+", "N-S-", "N-S+", "N+S-", "N+S+"):

  - S+/S- — sort by file size;
  - N+/N- — sort by file name;
  - Default is *size-name+*, that is, sort by size, descending (-), and then by name, ascending (+);
  - When combined — sort by the first parameter and then, if there are equal files, sort by the second parameter.

- Enable — run diagnostic action automatically (default *False*; available only for the Diagnostic Task).

::: note

Parameter overrides created for the **Veeam VMware: Datastore Unknown Files Analysis Diagnostic Task** in the *Veeam VMware: Datastore Unknown Files Analysis* monitor are not applied to the **Scan Datastore for Unknown Files** task.

:::