Recovering Deleted Data from NAS Lenovo Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl: A Comprehensive Guide

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Lenovo Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Lenovo often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Lenovo Iomega StorCenter ix2/ix2-dl. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were 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;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison