How to Choose Data Recovery Software for NAS Infortrend EonStor DS 1012: Complete Guide

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 a NAS Infortrend EonStor DS 1012 device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the Infortrend EonStor DS 1012 can have a significant impact on data transfer speed and potential loss. Here's how:

1. Data Transfer Speed: The network throughput or bandwidth capacity determines how much data can be transferred between the NAS device and the connected network at a given time. Higher throughput means more data can be transferred, resulting in faster file transfers and access to the stored data. Conversely, lower throughput can lead to slower data transfer speeds, causing delays in accessing or transferring files.
2. Latency and Response Time: Network throughput also affects the latency or response time of the NAS device. Latency refers to the time taken for a data packet to travel from source to destination. Higher throughput helps reduce latency, resulting in quicker response times when accessing or transferring files. Lower throughput can increase latency, leading to slower response times and potential delays.
3. Concurrent Users and Workloads: The network throughput capacity of a NAS device determines how many concurrent users and workloads it can handle effectively. If the throughput is insufficient to support the number of users or the workload demands, it can result in network congestion, slower data transfers, and potential data loss due to timeouts or connection failures.
4. Data Loss and Corruption: Insufficient network throughput can increase the chances of data loss or corruption during data transfer. If the network is unable to handle the data flow efficiently, it may result in dropped packets, incomplete file transfers, or errors in data transmission. This can lead to data loss or corrupted files, affecting the integrity and reliability of the stored data.

To mitigate these issues and ensure optimal performance:

• Ensure that the NAS device's network interface is connected to a network switch or router with sufficient bandwidth capacity.
• Use high-quality network cables and ensure they are properly connected to avoid any signal degradation.
• Regularly monitor network traffic and identify any bottlenecks or congestion points that may affect throughput.
• Consider upgrading the network infrastructure or NAS device if the current throughput capacity is insufficient for the workload demands.
• Implement data redundancy and backup strategies to mitigate the risk of data loss in case of any network or transfer failures.

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

Although NAS EonStor DS 1012 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 DS 1012. 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 DS 1012 has 12 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 DS 1012 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