How to recover data from Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center 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.

Are there any recommended practices for regular testing and validation of data backups to prevent potential loss on NAS Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center devices?

Yes, there are recommended practices for regular testing and validation of data backups to prevent potential loss on NAS Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center devices. Here are some best practices to follow:

1. Regularly schedule backup tests: Set up a regular schedule to test the backups on your Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center devices. This could be done weekly, monthly, or as per your organization's requirements.
2. Test data restoration: Perform regular tests to ensure that the backup data can be successfully restored. This involves selecting random files or folders from the backup and restoring them to a different location to verify their integrity.
3. Validate backup integrity: Use built-in validation tools or third-party software to check the integrity and consistency of the backup data. This can help identify any corrupted or incomplete backups.
4. Perform test restores: In addition to testing individual file restores, periodically perform full system restores to ensure that the backup can restore the entire system in case of a disaster.
5. Monitor backup logs and notifications: Enable backup log notifications and regularly review them to ensure that backups are running successfully without any errors or warnings.
6. Keep multiple backup copies: Maintain multiple copies of your backup data on different storage devices or locations to mitigate the risk of data loss due to hardware failures or disasters.
7. Regularly update firmware and software: Keep your NAS device's firmware and backup software up to date to ensure compatibility, security, and bug fixes.
8. Perform regular maintenance: Regularly clean and maintain your NAS device, including checking for hardware issues, verifying disk health, and replacing faulty components if necessary.
9. Document and review backup procedures: Document your backup procedures and review them periodically to ensure they are up to date and align with your organization's requirements.
10. Offsite backups: Consider implementing an offsite backup strategy to protect against physical damage or loss of the NAS device. This could involve replicating data to a remote location or using cloud-based backup services.

By following these recommended practices, you can minimize the risk of potential data loss and ensure the reliability of your backups on Lenovo Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center devices.

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

Although NAS Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center 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.

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   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 Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center. 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.

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How to recover data from a Lenovo

Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• None;

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 Iomega EZ Media & Backup Center 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