How to Choose Data Recovery Software for Recovering NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 1024 Data: Essential Guide

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 1024
• 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 data fragmentation impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 1024 devices?

Data fragmentation can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss on NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 1024 devices. Here are some ways in which data fragmentation can affect these devices:

1. Reduced performance: Data fragmentation can lead to decreased read and write speeds on the NAS device. Fragmented data requires the device to perform additional seek operations to access different parts of the file, resulting in slower performance.
2. Increased disk space usage: Fragmented data takes up more disk space than contiguous data. This can result in inefficient disk utilization and can lead to running out of storage space sooner than expected.
3. Increased risk of data loss: Fragmented data is more susceptible to data loss. If a single fragment of a file becomes corrupted or lost, the entire file may become unreadable or unusable. This risk is particularly high in cases where data is spread across multiple disks or storage volumes.
4. Longer data recovery time: In the event of a data loss or system failure, recovering fragmented data can be more time-consuming and complex. The fragmented data may be scattered across different disks or storage locations, requiring additional effort and resources to restore the data.
5. Difficulty in data management: Fragmented data can make it challenging to manage and organize files effectively. It becomes harder to locate specific files or perform tasks like data backups, data migration, or data replication.

To mitigate the impact of data fragmentation on NAS devices, it is essential to regularly defragment the data. Defragmentation rearranges the fragmented data into contiguous blocks, improving performance, reducing disk space usage, and minimizing the risk of data loss. Additionally, implementing proper data management practices, such as organizing files into logical folders and regularly monitoring disk usage, can help prevent fragmentation and ensure data availability on NAS devices.

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

Although the NAS EonStor GS 1024 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 GS 1024. 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 GS 1024 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 GS 1024 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