Accessing Files on a RAID Disk When NAS Promise Vess 1840f is Not Working: Step-by-Step Guide

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Promise Vess 1840f
• 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 recommended practices for regular testing and validation of data backups to prevent potential loss on NAS Promise Vess 1840f devices?

Yes, there are recommended practices for regular testing and validation of data backups to prevent potential loss on NAS Promise Vess 1840f devices. Here are some best practices:

1. Regular Backup Schedule: Establish a regular backup schedule that suits your organization's needs. This could be daily, weekly, or monthly backups depending on the volume of data changes.
2. Offsite Backup: Maintain an offsite backup of your data to ensure redundancy and protection against physical damage or disasters. This can be done by replicating data to another Vess device in a different location or using cloud storage services.
3. Automated Backup Verification: Enable automated backup verification to ensure the integrity of your backups. This feature checks the backup data against the original data for any discrepancies or errors.
4. Test Restores: Periodically perform test restores to validate the backup data. This involves restoring a subset of data and verifying its accuracy and completeness. It helps identify any issues with the backup process and ensures that data can be restored successfully when needed.
5. Monitor Backup Logs: Regularly monitor backup logs and error reports to identify any issues or failures. This helps in troubleshooting and resolving problems promptly.
6. Regular Firmware Updates: Keep the firmware of your Promise Vess 1840f device up to date. Firmware updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can enhance the reliability of your backups.
7. Document Backup Procedures: Maintain documentation of your backup procedures, including step-by-step instructions for backup, restore, and verification processes. This ensures consistency and helps train new staff members.
8. Regularly Review Backup Strategy: Periodically review and reassess your backup strategy to ensure it aligns with your organization's changing needs and data growth. This can help identify any gaps or areas for improvement.

By following these recommended practices, you can minimize the risk of potential data loss and ensure the reliability of your backups on NAS Promise Vess 1840f devices.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS Vess 1840f 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 Vess 1840f. 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

Vess 1840f 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;

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 Vess 1840f 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