How to recover data from Promise Vess 1830 NAS

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 a NAS Promise Vess 1830 device's cache settings impact data loss risks?

The cache settings of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device, such as the Promise Vess 1830, can have an impact on the risk of data loss. Here are a few ways in which cache settings can affect data loss risks:

1. Write-back vs. write-through cache: NAS devices typically use a cache to temporarily store write operations before committing them to the underlying storage media. Write-back cache mode allows the NAS to acknowledge write operations as completed before actually writing them to the disks. This can improve performance but also introduces a risk of data loss if a power failure or system crash occurs before the data is written to the disks. On the other hand, write-through cache mode immediately writes data to the disks, reducing the risk of data loss but potentially impacting performance.
2. Cache size: The size of the cache can impact the risk of data loss. A larger cache can provide better performance by temporarily storing more data, but it also means that more data is at risk if a power failure or system crash occurs before the data is written to the disks. A smaller cache may reduce the risk of data loss but could potentially impact performance.
3. Cache protection mechanisms: Some NAS devices offer cache protection mechanisms, such as battery backup units (BBUs) or supercapacitors, which help ensure that data in the cache is not lost in the event of a power failure. These mechanisms can significantly reduce the risk of data loss.
4. RAID configuration: The cache settings should be considered in conjunction with the RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configuration of the NAS. RAID levels such as RAID 5 or RAID 6 provide data redundancy and can help mitigate the risk of data loss even if the cache settings are optimized for performance.

It is important to carefully consider the cache settings of a NAS device based on the specific requirements of your environment, balancing the need for performance with the risk of data loss. Regular backups, redundant storage configurations, and appropriate cache protection mechanisms can further minimize the risk of data loss.

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

Although NAS Vess 1830 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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Promise Vess 1830. 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

Vess 1830 has 16 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 Vess 1830 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