Tips for Efficient NAS Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server Data Recovery

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server
• 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 does a NAS Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server device store and manage data?

The Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device that is designed for edge computing environments. It can store and manage data in the following ways:

1. Storage Capacity: The SE350 can be equipped with up to four hot-swappable storage drives, typically using solid-state drives (SSDs) or hard disk drives (HDDs). These drives provide the primary storage capacity for the device.
2. RAID Support: The SE350 supports various RAID configurations, such as RAID 0, 1, 5, or 10. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) allows for data redundancy and increased performance by distributing data across multiple drives.
3. File System: The SE350 uses a file system to organize and manage data on the storage drives. It typically supports file systems like NTFS (Windows), ext4 (Linux), or other compatible file systems.
4. Network Connectivity: The SE350 is equipped with multiple network interfaces, such as Ethernet ports, which allow it to connect to the local network or the internet. This enables data transfer and access from other devices across the network.
5. Network Protocols: The SE350 supports various network protocols, including SMB (Server Message Block), NFS (Network File System), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and others. These protocols facilitate data access and file sharing between the SE350 and other network devices.
6. Management Software: Lenovo provides management software, such as Lenovo XClarity Controller, which allows administrators to monitor, configure, and manage the SE350 remotely. This software provides a user-friendly interface to perform tasks like creating storage pools, managing RAID configurations, and monitoring system health.
7. Data Protection: The SE350 supports data protection mechanisms like data backup, snapshots, and replication. These features help safeguard data against accidental deletion, hardware failures, or other unforeseen events.

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server device combines storage drives, network connectivity, and management software to store and manage data efficiently in edge computing environments.

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

Although the NAS ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server 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 ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server. 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

ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server has 12 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;

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 ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server 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