How to recover data from Infortrend EonStor DS 1024B 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.

Are there any recommended steps to take after detecting or suspecting data loss on a NAS Infortrend EonStor DS 1024B device?

If you suspect or detect data loss on a NAS Infortrend EonStor DS 1024B device, here are some recommended steps to take:

1. Stop all write operations: As soon as you notice data loss, it is crucial to stop any write operations on the NAS device. This will prevent further overwriting of the lost data and increase the chances of recovery.
2. Identify the cause: Determine the cause of the data loss. It could be due to hardware failure, software corruption, accidental deletion, or other factors. Understanding the cause will help in choosing the appropriate recovery method.
3. Contact technical support: Reach out to the technical support team of Infortrend or the vendor from whom you purchased the NAS device. They can provide guidance and assistance based on their expertise and knowledge of the specific device.
4. Backup and restore: Check if you have a recent backup of the lost data. If you do, restore the data from the backup to the NAS device. This is the simplest and most efficient way to recover lost data.
5. Use data recovery software: If you do not have a backup or if the backup is outdated, you can try using data recovery software. There are various data recovery tools available in the market that can scan the NAS device and attempt to recover the lost data. Remember to use the software on a separate computer and not directly on the NAS device to avoid overwriting any data.
6. Consult professional data recovery services: If the above steps do not yield satisfactory results or if the data is critical and valuable, it is recommended to consult professional data recovery services. These services have specialized tools and expertise to recover data from various storage devices, including NAS devices. They can perform advanced recovery techniques to maximize the chances of successful data retrieval.

Remember, data recovery is not always guaranteed, especially if the data has been overwritten or the storage media is severely damaged. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly back up your data to prevent or minimize data loss incidents.

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

Although NAS EonStor DS 1024B 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 1024B. 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 1024B has 24 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 1024B 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