How to recover data from Infortrend EonStor GSe 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.

How can a NAS Infortrend EonStor GSe 2012 device's caching policy impact data loss risks?

The caching policy of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the Infortrend EonStor GSe 2012 can have an impact on data loss risks. The caching policy determines how data is temporarily stored in the device's cache memory before being written to the permanent storage medium (such as hard drives or SSDs). Here are a few ways the caching policy can affect data loss risks:

1. Write-Through Policy: In a write-through caching policy, data is immediately written to the permanent storage medium before it is acknowledged as written. This policy reduces the risk of data loss as the data is stored in the permanent storage medium right away. However, it can impact performance as each write operation requires a disk I/O operation.
2. Write-Back Policy: In a write-back caching policy, data is initially written to the cache memory, and the acknowledgment is sent back to the application. The data is then written to the permanent storage medium at a later time, usually during idle periods. This policy improves performance as write operations are faster, but it increases the risk of data loss if a power failure or system crash occurs before the data is written to the permanent storage. In such cases, the data in the cache may be lost.
3. Battery-Backed Cache: Some NAS devices, including the Infortrend EonStor GSe 2012, have battery-backed cache modules. These modules use a battery to provide power to the cache memory in case of a power failure. This allows the device to complete pending write operations and ensure data integrity even during unexpected power outages. Battery-backed cache reduces the risk of data loss associated with write-back caching policies.
4. Cache Flush Frequency: The frequency at which the cache is flushed and data is written to the permanent storage medium can also impact data loss risks. A more frequent cache flush reduces the amount of data stored in the cache at any given time, minimizing the potential loss in case of a failure. However, frequent cache flushes can also impact performance, especially if the storage system is under heavy write load.

It is important to consider the specific requirements of your data storage environment and the criticality of the data being stored when selecting the caching policy for a NAS device.

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

Although NAS EonStor GSe 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.

   Go to view

   

   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 GSe 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a Infortrend

EonStor GSe 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 GSe 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