How to recover data from Infortrend EonStor CS 4060G NAS

Contents

• Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
• How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?

Conventional hard disks keep user’s data by writing it to their surface in a consecutive way, and this is how an entire file is stored on a single hard disk. However, when data is written to a RAID system, a file is divided into several parts. Then these parts are written consecutively to all hard disks within such array. The size of such parts may range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so each file is stored on several hard disks at the same time.

Such approach helps to speed up read and write operations, and it is evident that saving two parts of a file having the size of 1 GB to two hard disks simultaneously is much faster than saving the same 1 GB of data to one hard disk. However, this peculiarity makes file recovery more complicated.

Various RAID levels store information in different ways. Additionally, manufacturers like Infortrend also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

How can user training or education help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Infortrend EonStor CS 4060G devices?

User training or education can help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Infortrend EonStor CS 4060G devices in several ways:

1. Understanding the device: Proper training can help users understand the functionality, features, and limitations of the NAS device. This knowledge can prevent accidental misuse or misconfiguration that could lead to data loss.
2. Best practices: Training sessions can educate users about best practices for data storage and management. This includes regular backups, implementing redundancy, setting up access controls, and ensuring proper security measures. Following these best practices can significantly reduce the risk of data loss.
3. Troubleshooting skills: Users with adequate training can learn how to troubleshoot common issues that may lead to data loss, such as disk failures, network connectivity problems, or software glitches. Being able to identify and address these issues promptly can prevent data loss or minimize its impact.
4. Security awareness: Education can raise awareness about the importance of data security and the potential risks associated with unauthorized access, malware, or ransomware attacks. Users can learn about preventive measures like using strong passwords, enabling encryption, and implementing firewalls to protect their data.
5. Disaster recovery planning: Training can help users understand the significance of disaster recovery planning and how to create effective strategies to recover data in case of a catastrophic event. This may involve setting up off-site backups, utilizing snapshots, or implementing RAID configurations.
6. Regular updates and patches: Users can be educated about the importance of keeping the NAS device firmware, software, and security patches up to date. This ensures that any known vulnerabilities are addressed, reducing the risk of data loss due to exploits or software bugs.

Overall, user training or education plays a crucial role in minimizing data loss incidents by empowering users with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage and protect their data on NAS devices like Infortrend EonStor CS 4060G.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS EonStor CS 4060G can be accessed over the network, you still need to take the hard disks out of the storage device and connect them to a Windows computer. Only in this case will the software be able to scan them properly. Here is what you should do:

1. Turn off the storage and disconnect it from the power supply.

   WARNING! Before you start taking hard disks out of your NAS device, read the manual carefully. Incorrect actions may damage your network-attached storage and/or the hard disks within the RAID system.

2. Take the hard disks out of the NAS one by one, carefully removing them from their slots. Remember that the disks are extremely vulnerable: hitting or dropping them may result in serious physical damage.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. Remove the hard disks and connect them to the computer. In this video, we have explored what ports are used to connect hard disks, and what to do if there are not enough ports or connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Infortrend EonStor CS 4060G. The hard disks that make up the RAID contain technical information about the algorithm used to save files. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery reads this information and puts the damaged array together. Then you can open the disk and save your files. Also, you can recover the files accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Infortrend

EonStor CS 4060G has 60 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;

Safe recovery from disk images

This utility lets you save an entire copy of the disk to file and then work with this image instead of the actual disk. Such feature helps to protect data on the disk from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Loss resulting from bad sectors;
• User mistakes.

To create an image, do the following:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. When the image creation wizard starts, you can choose to save the entire disk or select only a part of it. Specify the parameters and click Next.

   

4. At this stage, you need to choose a directory where to save the image. Choose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP.

   

Where are user’s files stored?

The Infortrend EonStor CS 4060G 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.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery