Best Practices for NAS Promise Pegasus J2-256G RAID Array Data Recovery

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Promise Pegasus J2-256G
• 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.

Can virtualization technologies impact data loss risks in NAS Promise Pegasus J2-256G devices?

Yes, virtualization technologies can potentially impact data loss risks in NAS Promise Pegasus J2-256G devices.

Virtualization allows for the creation of virtual machines (VMs) that can run multiple operating systems and applications on a single physical server. By utilizing virtualization, it is possible to isolate and protect data within individual VMs, reducing the risk of data loss.

Here are a few ways virtualization can impact data loss risks in NAS Promise Pegasus J2-256G devices:

1. Improved data protection: Virtualization allows for the implementation of advanced data protection mechanisms such as snapshots, replication, and backup. These features can help in recovering data in case of accidental deletion, hardware failures, or other data loss scenarios.
2. Enhanced security: Virtualization enables the implementation of security measures like access controls, encryption, and firewalls at the VM level. This can help protect data from unauthorized access and mitigate the risks of data breaches or data loss due to security vulnerabilities.
3. High availability: Virtualization technologies often provide features like high availability and fault tolerance, which can minimize downtime and ensure data availability. In the event of a hardware failure, virtualization platforms can automatically migrate VMs to healthy hosts, reducing the risk of data loss.
4. Disaster recovery: Virtualization allows for the creation of off-site backups and disaster recovery solutions. By replicating VMs and their data to remote locations, organizations can ensure that their data is protected in the event of a catastrophic event or site failure.

It is important to note that while virtualization technologies can help mitigate data loss risks, they should not be considered as a standalone solution. It is still crucial to implement proper backup strategies, regularly test data recovery procedures, and maintain appropriate security measures to ensure data protection.

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

Although the NAS Pegasus J2-256G 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 Pegasus J2-256G. 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

Pegasus J2-256G 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 Promise Pegasus J2-256G 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