How to restore a VM in case the ESX(i) Server is dead, but the backup datastore survived?

Imagine the following scenario:

1. You have backups configured in a way that the data is stored to a local ESX(i) datastore, let´s call it backup datastore.
2. This datastore is connected via NAS or USB or another method that is independent from the main datastore.
3. Your ESX(i) Server is down and needs to be replaced.
4. You attach the backup datastore to the new ESX(i) Server.
5. The new ESX(i) (with new IP address and hostname) is added to VM Explorer.

Now you would like to restore the VMs, but the backups are registered for the old ESX(i) Server.
Backup Explorer shows that the target is disconnected.
As a consequence, a restore of the VM is not possible.

Solution

1. Go to “Management“ -> "File Explorer“.
2. Select the ESX(i) Server you would like to restore to and where the NAS or USB disk is attached to now.
3. Browse down to the VM and then to the date, here you find a vmxbackup.xml file.
4. A right click to the vmxbackup.xml file and selecting "Restore Backup“ will open the VM restore context.