- 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.
How can a NAS Promise UltraTrak100 TX4 device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?
The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the Promise UltraTrak100 TX4 can significantly impact data transfer and potential loss in the following ways:
- Transfer Speed: The network throughput determines the maximum speed at which data can be transferred between the NAS device and the connected network. Higher throughput allows for faster data transfer, reducing the time required to backup or retrieve files. Conversely, lower throughput limits the transfer speed, potentially causing delays and impacting productivity.
- Concurrent Users: The available bandwidth capacity affects the number of concurrent users who can access the NAS device simultaneously without experiencing a significant decrease in performance. If the network throughput is insufficient to handle the data demands of multiple users, it can lead to slower transfer speeds, increased latency, and potential data loss due to timeouts or dropped connections.
- File Size and Types: Larger file sizes or certain types of data, such as high-resolution videos or large databases, require more bandwidth to transfer quickly. If the network throughput is limited, transferring such files may take longer, increasing the chances of data loss due to interruptions or network failures.
- Network Congestion: In a network with multiple devices sharing the same bandwidth, congestion can occur if the available throughput is insufficient. Network congestion can result in slower data transfer rates and potential data loss due to packet drops or corruption caused by collisions or buffer overflows.
- Redundancy and Data Protection: NAS devices often support RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection. However, the network throughput can impact the performance of RAID operations, such as data mirroring or parity calculations. Insufficient throughput can lead to slower RAID rebuild times and increased vulnerability to data loss during the rebuilding process.
To mitigate the impact of network throughput on data transfer and potential loss, it is essential to ensure that the NAS device's bandwidth capacity matches the network's requirements. Upgrading network infrastructure, using higher-speed network interfaces (e.g., 10GbE instead of 1GbE), or implementing network load balancing techniques can help improve network throughput and reduce the risk of data loss.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS UltraTrak100 TX4 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 UltraTrak100 TX4. 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
UltraTrak100 TX4 has 4 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 UltraTrak100 TX4 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 |
There are no specific hardware requirements for data recovery from a NAS Promise UltraTrak100 TX4 device. However, you will need a computer with a compatible operating system and sufficient storage space to recover the data from the device. Additionally, you may require specialized data recovery software or services depending on the nature of the data loss.