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

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Promise UltraTrak JB4000
• 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 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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS UltraTrak JB4000 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 UltraTrak JB4000. 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

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;

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 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison