Advanced Tips for Recovering NAS Infortrend EonStor DS 3024 Data from RAID Arrays

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Infortrend EonStor DS 3024
• 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 Infortrend 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 Infortrend EonStor DS 3024 devices?

Regular system monitoring and alerting can help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Infortrend EonStor DS 3024 devices in the following ways:

1. Performance Monitoring: By monitoring the performance metrics of the NAS device, such as CPU usage, memory utilization, and disk I/O, you can identify any abnormal behavior that could indicate a potential data loss event. For example, a sudden spike in CPU usage or a significant increase in disk I/O could be a sign of a malware attack or a failing hardware component.
2. Storage Capacity Monitoring: Monitoring the available storage capacity on the NAS device can help prevent data loss due to storage space exhaustion. By setting up alerts for low disk space, you can proactively take action to either expand the storage capacity or optimize the usage to avoid any data loss events.
3. Disk Health Monitoring: Monitoring the health of the physical disks in the NAS device is crucial for early detection of potential data loss events. By monitoring parameters such as disk temperature, SMART attributes, and disk read/write errors, you can identify failing or degraded disks that could lead to data loss. Alerts can be set up to notify administrators when disk health thresholds are breached, allowing them to replace the faulty disks before any data loss occurs.
4. RAID Array Monitoring: Infortrend EonStor DS 3024 devices support various RAID levels for data protection. Monitoring the status of the RAID arrays, including the individual disks' status and the overall array health, is essential for detecting and preventing data loss events. Alerts can be configured to notify administrators when a disk fails or when the RAID array is in a degraded state, enabling them to take immediate action to rebuild the array or replace the failed disks.
5. Backup Monitoring: Regular monitoring of the backup processes and ensuring their successful completion is vital for preventing data loss. By monitoring backup job statuses and verifying the integrity of backup files, you can ensure that data is being properly backed up and can be restored in case of any data loss events. Alerts can be set up to notify administrators if backups fail or if there are any issues with the backup files.
6. Security Monitoring: Monitoring the NAS device for any security-related events, such as unauthorized access attempts or suspicious network traffic, can help in early detection of potential data breaches. By setting up alerts for security events, administrators can take immediate action to prevent any unauthorized access and mitigate the risk of data loss.

Overall, regular system monitoring and alerting provide administrators with real-time insights into the health and performance of the NAS device, enabling early detection and prevention of data loss events. It allows proactive measures to be taken to address any potential issues before they escalate into significant data loss incidents.

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

Although the NAS EonStor DS 3024 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 Infortrend EonStor DS 3024. 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 Infortrend

EonStor DS 3024 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;

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 Infortrend EonStor DS 3024 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