Practical Steps for Accessing RAID Disk Files When NAS Promise G1100 NAS Gateway is Not Active

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Promise G1100 NAS Gateway
• 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 Promise 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 user authentication methods impact data loss risks for NAS Promise G1100 NAS Gateway devices?

User authentication methods can greatly impact data loss risks for NAS Promise G1100 NAS Gateway devices. Here are a few ways:

1. Strong Password Policies: Implementing strong password policies, such as requiring complex passwords and regular password changes, can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to the device. Weak or easily guessable passwords can make it easier for attackers to gain access and potentially cause data loss.
2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enabling 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide an additional authentication factor, such as a code from a mobile app or a fingerprint scan, in addition to their password. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access even if the password is compromised.
3. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Implementing RBAC allows administrators to assign specific roles and permissions to different users or groups. This ensures that users only have access to the data and functions they need to perform their tasks, reducing the risk of accidental or intentional data loss.
4. Account Lockouts and Intrusion Detection: Implementing account lockouts after a certain number of failed login attempts can help prevent brute-force attacks. Additionally, setting up intrusion detection and alert systems can notify administrators of any suspicious login attempts or unauthorized access attempts, allowing them to take immediate action to prevent data loss.
5. Regular Security Updates: Keeping the NAS Gateway device's firmware and software up to date is crucial to address any security vulnerabilities. Regularly updating the device ensures that any known security issues are patched, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and potential data loss.

By implementing these user authentication methods, the overall security posture of the NAS Promise G1100 NAS Gateway devices can be significantly enhanced, reducing the risk of data loss.

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

Although the NAS G1100 NAS Gateway 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 Promise G1100 NAS Gateway. 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 Promise

G1100 NAS Gateway has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 1E;
• RAID 3;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 30;
• 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 Promise G1100 NAS Gateway network-attached storage keeps OS Linux 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