Data Recovery Best Practices for NAS Promise UltraTrak100 TX8 RAID Arrays

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.

How can the use of specific file-sharing protocols impact data loss risks on NAS Promise UltraTrak100 TX8 devices?

The use of specific file-sharing protocols can impact data loss risks on NAS Promise UltraTrak100 TX8 devices in several ways:

1. Security vulnerabilities: Some file-sharing protocols may have inherent security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers or malicious actors. If unauthorized access is gained through these vulnerabilities, it can lead to data loss or unauthorized modification of data on the NAS device.
2. Encryption and authentication: Different file-sharing protocols provide varying levels of encryption and authentication mechanisms. Weak encryption or lack of proper authentication can increase the risk of data loss if an attacker intercepts or modifies the data during transmission.
3. Compatibility and interoperability: Certain file-sharing protocols may have compatibility issues with the NAS device or other network components. Incompatibilities can lead to data corruption, loss, or inaccessibility if files are not properly transferred or stored on the NAS device.
4. User error and accidental deletion: Some file-sharing protocols may not have adequate safeguards against user error or accidental deletion of files. If a user mistakenly deletes or overwrites important data on the NAS device through the file-sharing protocol, it can result in permanent data loss.
5. Performance and reliability: Different file-sharing protocols have varying performance and reliability characteristics. Some protocols may be more prone to network interruptions, packet loss, or other issues that can result in data loss or corruption during file transfers.

To mitigate these risks, it is important to:

• Choose file-sharing protocols that have robust security features, such as encryption, authentication, and access controls.
• Regularly update the firmware and software of the NAS device to address any known security vulnerabilities.
• Implement proper access controls and user permissions to prevent unauthorized access or accidental deletion of files.
• Regularly backup data stored on the NAS device to an off-site location or a separate storage device to mitigate the impact of data loss.
• Monitor network traffic and log files for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts.
• Educate users about best practices for file sharing and data management to minimize the risk of user errors or accidental deletions.

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

Although NAS UltraTrak100 TX8 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 UltraTrak100 TX8. 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

UltraTrak100 TX8 has 8 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 UltraTrak100 TX8 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