How to recover data from Infortrend EonStor GS 2012 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 practices for off-site backup storage to prevent complete data loss in the event of a disaster?

Yes, there are several recommended practices for off-site backup storage to prevent complete data loss in the event of a disaster. Here are some key practices:

1. Regular backups: Perform regular backups of your data to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. The frequency of backups will depend on the criticality of your data and how frequently it changes.
2. Multiple backup locations: Store your backups in multiple off-site locations to minimize the risk of losing data in case one location is affected by a disaster. This can include cloud storage, remote data centers, or physical off-site storage.
3. Encryption: Encrypt your backup data to protect it from unauthorized access. This ensures that even if your backups are compromised, the data remains secure.
4. Redundancy: Maintain redundant copies of your backups to further minimize the risk of data loss. This can involve having multiple backup sets or implementing RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology.
5. Test backups regularly: Periodically test your backups to ensure they are working correctly and can be restored in case of a disaster. This helps identify any issues or errors with the backup process before you actually need to restore the data.
6. Versioning and archiving: Implement versioning and archiving mechanisms to retain multiple versions of files and data over time. This allows you to recover data from different points in time, which can be crucial in case of accidental deletions or data corruption.
7. Off-site backup rotation: Rotate your backup media or data periodically to ensure that you have access to historical backups. This can involve swapping physical storage devices or managing data retention policies in cloud storage.
8. Disaster recovery plan: Develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a disaster. This plan should include the procedures for restoring data from off-site backups and the roles and responsibilities of the individuals involved.
9. Regular monitoring and maintenance: Monitor the health and integrity of your off-site backup storage regularly. Ensure that the backup systems are functioning properly, storage media are in good condition, and any potential issues are addressed promptly.

By following these recommended practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of complete data loss and increase the chances of recovering your data in the event of a disaster.

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

Although NAS EonStor GS 2012 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.

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Infortrend EonStor GS 2012. 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.

EonStor GS 2012 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 GS 2012 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