Best Practices for NAS Promise SmartStor A6-CLD RAID Array Data Recovery

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Promise SmartStor A6-CLD
• 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.

Are there any specific system logs or event notifications to monitor for early detection of data loss on NAS Promise SmartStor A6-CLD devices?

Yes, there are specific system logs and event notifications that you can monitor for early detection of data loss on NAS Promise SmartStor A6-CLD devices. Here are some key logs and notifications to monitor:

1. SMART Logs: The SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) logs provide information about the health and status of the hard drives in the NAS device. Monitoring these logs can help you identify any potential issues with the drives that may lead to data loss.
2. RAID Status Notifications: The NAS device may generate notifications or logs related to the status of the RAID array. Monitoring these notifications can help you detect any issues with the RAID configuration that could result in data loss.
3. Disk Failure Notifications: The NAS device may send out notifications or log events when a disk fails or is predicted to fail. Monitoring these notifications can help you take immediate action to prevent data loss by replacing the failed disk.
4. File System Errors: Monitoring the system logs for any file system errors can help you identify potential issues that may lead to data loss. Look for any error messages related to file system corruption, disk errors, or I/O errors.
5. S.M.A.R.T. Notifications: The NAS device may generate notifications based on the S.M.A.R.T. data of the hard drives. These notifications can alert you to potential drive failures or other issues that could result in data loss.
6. Backup and Sync Notifications: If you have configured backup or synchronization tasks on the NAS device, monitoring the related notifications can help you ensure that the data is being backed up or synced properly. Any failures or errors in these tasks may indicate a risk of data loss.

It is important to regularly review and monitor these logs and notifications to detect any potential issues early and take appropriate actions to prevent data loss.

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

Although the NAS SmartStor A6-CLD 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 SmartStor A6-CLD. 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

SmartStor A6-CLD has 6 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 1E;
• RAID 3;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• 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 SmartStor A6-CLD 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