- 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?
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 specific system logs or event notifications to monitor for early detection of data loss on NAS Infortrend EonStor GSe Pro 108 devices?
Yes, there are specific system logs and event notifications that you can monitor for early detection of data loss on Infortrend EonStor GSe Pro 108 NAS devices. Some of the key logs and notifications to monitor include:
- RAID Controller Logs: The RAID controller logs provide information about the health and status of the RAID array. Monitoring these logs can help you detect any issues related to disk failures, rebuilds, or other RAID-related problems that can potentially lead to data loss.
- Disk SMART Logs: SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) logs provide detailed information about the health and performance of individual hard drives. Monitoring these logs can help you identify early signs of drive failures or errors that may result in data loss.
- System Event Logs: The system event logs capture various system-level events and errors. Monitoring these logs can help you identify any abnormal behavior or errors that could potentially lead to data loss.
- Network Connectivity Logs: Monitoring network connectivity logs can help you identify any network-related issues that may impact the accessibility or availability of your NAS device. Network connectivity problems can sometimes result in data loss or corruption.
- NAS Device Health and Performance Monitoring: Monitoring the overall health and performance of your NAS device can help you identify any potential issues that may impact data integrity or availability. This includes monitoring CPU and memory usage, storage utilization, and network bandwidth usage.
In addition to these logs, it is also important to configure and monitor system notifications and alerts. Infortrend EonStor GSe Pro 108 devices typically provide options to configure email notifications or SNMP traps for various events and conditions. By configuring and monitoring these notifications, you can receive real-time alerts about critical events that may lead to data loss, such as disk failures or RAID rebuilds.
It is recommended to consult the product documentation or contact Infortrend support for specific guidance on monitoring and configuring logs and notifications for your EonStor GSe Pro 108 NAS devices.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS EonStor GSe Pro 108 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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.
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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Infortrend EonStor GSe Pro 108. 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 GSe Pro 108 has 8 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 Pro 108 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
Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, data recovery from a NAS Infortrend EonStor GSe Pro 108 device can be performed even if there are issues with the storage drive or media errors. Data recovery specialists have the expertise and tools to recover data from various storage devices, including NAS devices.
However, the success of data recovery depends on the severity of the issue and the extent of the damage. If the storage drive is severely damaged or has physical issues, the recovery process may be more challenging and may require specialized techniques like repairing or replacing faulty components.
It is important to note that attempting data recovery without proper knowledge and experience can further damage the storage drive and make data recovery more difficult or even impossible. Therefore, it is recommended to consult with a professional data recovery service for the best chance of recovering your data from a NAS Infortrend EonStor GSe Pro 108 device.