Data Recovery Best Practices for a Failed NAS Promise UltraTrak JB4000 RAID Configuration

Contents

• 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?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

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 factors to consider when choosing a NAS Promise UltraTrak JB4000 device to minimize data loss risks?

Yes, there are several factors to consider when choosing a NAS Promise UltraTrak JB4000 device to minimize data loss risks. Here are some key factors:

1. Redundancy: Look for a NAS device that offers RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology, specifically RAID levels 1, 5, or 6. These levels provide data redundancy, ensuring that if one drive fails, your data remains intact on the other drives.
2. Hot-swappable drives: Choose a NAS device that supports hot-swappable drives. This allows you to replace a failed drive without shutting down the system, minimizing downtime and reducing the risk of data loss.
3. Backup and recovery options: Consider a NAS device that offers built-in backup and recovery features. Look for features like scheduled backups, incremental backups, and the ability to restore data easily in case of accidental deletion or hardware failure.
4. Power backup: Ensure that the NAS device has a reliable power backup mechanism, such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Power outages or surges can lead to data corruption or loss, so having a backup power source can help protect your data.
5. Data encryption: If you deal with sensitive or confidential data, consider a NAS device that supports data encryption. Encryption ensures that even if the physical drives are compromised, the data remains unreadable without the encryption key.
6. Scalability: Choose a NAS device that allows for easy expansion as your storage needs grow. This can help prevent data loss risks associated with running out of storage space or having to migrate data to a new system.
7. Regular maintenance and updates: Ensure that the NAS device has regular firmware updates and maintenance support from the manufacturer. This helps to address any potential vulnerabilities and ensures the device's optimal performance and data integrity.
8. User access controls: Look for a NAS device that offers granular user access controls. This allows you to restrict access to specific files or folders, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or accidental deletion.

By considering these factors, you can minimize the risks of data loss and ensure the safety and integrity of your data on a NAS Promise UltraTrak JB4000 device.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS UltraTrak JB4000 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. 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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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Promise UltraTrak JB4000. 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.

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How to recover data from a Promise

UltraTrak JB4000 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;

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:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. 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.

   

4. 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 UltraTrak JB4000 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