Faulty RAID Array? Steps to Recover Data from NAS Huawei OceanStor 6800 V5

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Huawei OceanStor 6800 V5
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Huawei often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

How can regular system monitoring and alerting help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Huawei OceanStor 6800 V5 devices?

Regular system monitoring and alerting can help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Huawei OceanStor 6800 V5 devices in the following ways:

1. Real-time monitoring: By regularly monitoring the system, you can keep track of the overall health and performance of the NAS device. This includes monitoring CPU usage, memory utilization, network traffic, and storage capacity.
2. Event logging: The NAS device should be configured to log all events and activities. By reviewing the logs regularly, you can identify any suspicious or abnormal activities that could potentially lead to data loss.
3. Performance monitoring: Monitoring the performance metrics of the NAS device can help you identify any performance degradation or bottlenecks that could impact data availability and integrity. This can include monitoring disk I/O, latency, and throughput.
4. Storage usage monitoring: Keeping an eye on the storage capacity utilization can help you identify any potential issues such as low disk space or excessive data growth. This can help prevent data loss due to insufficient storage capacity.
5. RAID health monitoring: The NAS device should have RAID arrays configured for data redundancy and protection. Regular monitoring of RAID health, including disk failures, can help you proactively replace faulty drives and prevent data loss.
6. Network monitoring: Monitoring the network connectivity and traffic can help identify any network-related issues that could impact data availability. This includes monitoring network interfaces, switches, and routers.
7. Alerting and notifications: Configure the NAS device to send alerts and notifications in case of any abnormal events or conditions. This can include alerts for disk failures, high CPU usage, low disk space, or any other critical system events. Prompt alerts can help you take immediate actions to prevent potential data loss.

By implementing regular system monitoring and alerting on NAS Huawei OceanStor 6800 V5 devices, you can proactively detect and address any potential issues that could lead to data loss, ensuring the integrity and availability of your data.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS OceanStor 6800 V5 can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Huawei OceanStor 6800 V5. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Huawei

OceanStor 6800 V5 has 3200 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?

The Huawei OceanStor 6800 V5 network-attached storage keeps OS Linux operating system files on a separate RAID 1 (mirrored) array. Usually, all NAS systems create several volumes on every hard disk, and the first of them takes up to 2 Gb of space. This is where operating system files are stored. Other volumes are united into a RAID array where user’s data is written.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison