How to recover data from Lenovo EMC px2-300d 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 Lenovo 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 Lenovo EMC px2-300d device's cache settings impact data loss risks?

The cache settings on a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the Lenovo EMC px2-300d can impact data loss risks in the following ways:

1. Write-back cache: If the device is configured to use a write-back cache, it means that data is first written to the cache before being written to the actual storage disks. This can improve performance but also increases the risk of data loss if a power outage or system failure occurs before the data is written to the disks. In such cases, any data in the cache that has not been written to the disks may be lost.
2. Write-through cache: On the other hand, if the device is configured to use a write-through cache, data is written simultaneously to both the cache and the disks. This reduces the risk of data loss in case of a power outage or system failure since the data is immediately written to the disks. However, it may result in slightly slower write performance compared to write-back cache.
3. Cache size: The size of the cache can also impact data loss risks. A larger cache can improve performance by allowing more data to be stored temporarily before being written to the disks. However, if the cache size is not appropriately managed, it can increase the risk of data loss because a larger cache means more data is vulnerable to loss in case of a failure.
4. RAID configuration: The NAS device may also support RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations, which provide data redundancy and protection against disk failures. The cache settings can impact the way data is written and distributed across the RAID array, affecting the overall data loss risks. Proper RAID configuration and cache settings are essential to minimize the chances of data loss.

It is important to carefully consider the cache settings and their impact on data loss risks based on the specific needs and priorities of the NAS device's usage scenario.

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

Although NAS EMC px2-300d 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 Lenovo EMC px2-300d. 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 Lenovo

EMC px2-300d has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• 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 Lenovo EMC px2-300d network-attached storage keeps LifeLine 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