How to recover data from Lenovo Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl 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 continuous data protection mechanisms help in minimizing potential data loss on NAS Lenovo Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl devices?

Continuous data protection (CDP) mechanisms can help minimize potential data loss on NAS Lenovo Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl devices in the following ways:

1. Real-time Data Replication: CDP mechanisms continuously replicate data from the primary NAS device to a secondary location, ensuring that any changes or updates are immediately synchronized. This minimizes the risk of data loss in case of hardware failures or disasters.
2. Point-in-Time Recovery: CDP solutions create multiple recovery points, allowing users to restore data from a specific point in time. This is particularly useful in case of accidental file deletion, data corruption, or ransomware attacks, as it enables easy recovery to a known good state.
3. Incremental Backups: CDP mechanisms typically use incremental backups, which only transfer the changes made since the last backup. This reduces the backup window and minimizes the impact on network bandwidth and system performance.
4. Continuous Monitoring and Alerts: CDP solutions often include monitoring capabilities to detect any issues or anomalies in the NAS device. They can send real-time alerts to administrators, enabling them to address potential problems before they escalate and cause data loss.
5. Instant Data Recovery: CDP mechanisms provide near-instantaneous data recovery by allowing users to access and restore files directly from the backup repository. This eliminates downtime and ensures business continuity in case of data loss events.
6. Versioning and File History: CDP solutions maintain a history of file versions, allowing users to roll back to a previous version if needed. This protects against accidental modifications or data corruption, providing additional data loss prevention.
7. Redundancy and High Availability: CDP mechanisms can be configured with redundant storage systems or in a high-availability setup. This ensures that even if one NAS device fails, the data remains accessible and protected on another device.
8. Scalability: CDP solutions can scale to accommodate growing data volumes and increased storage requirements. This flexibility allows organizations to continue protecting their data as their storage needs expand.

By implementing continuous data protection mechanisms on Lenovo Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl devices, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of data loss and increase the reliability and availability of their stored data.

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

Although NAS Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl 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 StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl. 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 StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl 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 Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl 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