What can you do to retrieve a virtual machine deleted from the vSphere inventory?

To retrieve a virtual machine that has been deleted from the vSphere inventory, selecting "Register VM from the datastore menu" is an effective approach. When a virtual machine is deleted from the inventory, its files still reside on the datastore unless they have been removed from there as well. By using the "Register VM" option, you can locate the virtual machine's configuration files (.vmx), which are still present in the datastore, and re-add it to the vSphere inventory. This process involves navigating to the datastore where the VM was located, selecting the appropriate files, and registering the VM to make it available again in the vSphere client.

In contrast, restoring from backup generally applies when the virtual machine's files are no longer present in the datastore, necessitating a restoration from backup solutions. Utilizing the command line might provide advanced options but is not the most straightforward method for the task at hand and assumes familiarity with command-line operations. Contacting VMware support would be a course of action typically reserved for more complex issues or when assistance is needed, rather than a direct method for simple retrieval from the datastore.