- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 4025U
- How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
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.
What is a NAS Infortrend EonStor GS 4025U (Network Attached Storage) device?
The Infortrend EonStor GS 4025U is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device manufactured by Infortrend.
NAS is a type of storage device that is connected to a network and provides file-level data storage to multiple clients or users. It allows users to access and share data over a network, making it a convenient solution for small to large businesses or organizations.
The EonStor GS 4025U is a specific model of NAS device offered by Infortrend. It is designed for enterprise-level storage needs and offers high performance, scalability, and data protection features. It supports various storage protocols such as NFS, SMB/CIFS, iSCSI, and FTP, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into different network environments.
The device comes with multiple drive bays, allowing for the installation of multiple hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs) to create a large storage pool. It also supports RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection against drive failures.
The EonStor GS 4025U is equipped with advanced features like snapshots, thin provisioning, and data deduplication to optimize storage efficiency and enhance data management. It also offers options for data replication and backup to ensure data availability and disaster recovery.
Overall, the Infortrend EonStor GS 4025U NAS device is a powerful and reliable storage solution that provides centralized data storage and management for businesses and organizations.
How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS EonStor GS 4025U 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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.
-
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.
Go to view
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 4025U. 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.
How to recover data from a Infortrend
EonStor GS 4025U has 25 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:
-
Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.
-
In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.
-
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.
-
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 4025U 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
| Product | Operating system | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, APFS, HFS+, Ext4, Ext3, Ext2, ReiserFS, Btrfs, VMFS, Hikvision, XFS, UFS, ZFS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 10 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Recovering data from a NAS device that has undergone a factory reset or system restore can be challenging. When a factory reset or system restore is performed, it typically erases all the data on the device and restores it to its original state. This means that the data is no longer accessible through normal means.
However, there are specialized data recovery services and software available that may be able to recover some or all of the data. These services use advanced techniques to attempt to recover the data from the device's storage media. It is important to note that the success of data recovery depends on various factors such as the extent of the reset, the storage media used in the device, and the condition of the data.
If you need to recover data from a NAS device that has undergone a factory reset or system restore, it is recommended to contact a professional data recovery service. They can assess the situation and provide guidance on the possibility of data recovery and the best course of action.