- Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
- How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
Conventional hard disks keep user’s data by writing it to their surface in a consecutive way, and this is how an entire file is stored on a single hard disk. However, when data is written to a RAID system, a file is divided into several parts. Then these parts are written consecutively to all hard disks within such array. The size of such parts may range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so each file is stored on several hard disks at the same time.
Such approach helps to speed up read and write operations, and it is evident that saving two parts of a file having the size of 1 GB to two hard disks simultaneously is much faster than saving the same 1 GB of data to one hard disk. However, this peculiarity makes file recovery more complicated.
Various RAID levels store information in different ways. Additionally, manufacturers like Promise also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS SmartStor A6-CLD can be accessed over the network, you still need to take the hard disks out of the storage device and connect them to a Windows computer. Only in this case will the software be able to scan them properly. Here is what you should do:
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Turn off the storage and disconnect it from the power supply.
WARNING! Before you start taking hard disks out of your NAS device, read the manual carefully. Incorrect actions may damage your network-attached storage and/or the hard disks within the RAID system.
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Take the hard disks out of the NAS one by one, carefully removing them from their slots. Remember that the disks are extremely vulnerable: hitting or dropping them may result in serious physical damage.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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Remove the hard disks and connect them to the computer. In this video, we have explored what ports are used to connect hard disks, and what to do if there are not enough ports or connectors.
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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Promise SmartStor A6-CLD. The hard disks that make up the RAID contain technical information about the algorithm used to save files. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery reads this information and puts the damaged array together. Then you can open the disk and save your files. Also, you can recover the files accidentally deleted from the network drive.
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;
Safe recovery from disk images
This utility lets you save an entire copy of the disk to file and then work with this image instead of the actual disk. Such feature helps to protect data on the disk from:
- Overwriting during the recovery process;
- Loss resulting from bad sectors;
- User mistakes.
To create an image, do the following:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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When the image creation wizard starts, you can choose to save the entire disk or select only a part of it. Specify the parameters and click Next.
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At this stage, you need to choose a directory where to save the image. Choose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP.
Where are user’s files 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.
Comparison of software for RAID recovery
| Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The success of data recovery from a water or fire-damaged NAS device like the Promise SmartStor A6-CLD depends on the extent of the damage. In general, water or fire damage can severely impact the internal components of the device, including the hard drives.
If the hard drives themselves are not severely damaged, data recovery may still be possible. However, if the drives have been physically damaged or exposed to extreme heat, the chances of successful recovery decrease significantly.
In such cases, it is recommended to contact professional data recovery services that specialize in handling water or fire-damaged storage devices. These experts have the necessary tools and expertise to recover data from damaged devices, but the success rate will ultimately depend on the condition of the hardware.