Practical Steps for Accessing Files on a RAID Disk When NAS Promise VTrak 12110 is Offline

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.

Are there any specific precautions to take while migrating data between NAS Promise VTrak 12110 devices?

Yes, there are some precautions to take while migrating data between NAS Promise VTrak 12110 devices. Here are a few:

1. Backup Data: Before starting the migration process, it is highly recommended to backup all the data on the source NAS device. This ensures that even if something goes wrong during the migration, you still have a copy of your data.
2. Verify Compatibility: Ensure that the target NAS device is compatible with the source device. Check the specifications and requirements of both devices to ensure a smooth migration process.
3. Plan Downtime: Migrating data between NAS devices may require some downtime. Plan the migration during a time when the impact on users is minimal. Communicate the downtime to users in advance to avoid any inconvenience.
4. Test Migration: Perform a test migration with a small amount of data to ensure that the process works as expected. This helps identify any potential issues or complications before migrating the entire dataset.
5. Network Bandwidth: Consider the network bandwidth available for the migration process. If the network is slow or congested, it may significantly impact the migration time. Optimize the network or consider alternative methods like physical transfer of data if required.
6. Monitor the Migration: Keep a close eye on the migration process and monitor its progress. This allows you to identify any issues or errors early on and take corrective actions if necessary.
7. Verify Data Integrity: Once the migration is complete, verify the integrity of the data on the target NAS device. Perform data integrity checks and ensure that all files and folders have been successfully transferred.
8. Update Access Permissions: After the migration, review and update access permissions on the target NAS device as per your requirements. Ensure that users have the necessary access rights to the migrated data.

It is always recommended to consult the official documentation or seek assistance from the vendor for specific instructions and best practices related to migrating data between NAS Promise VTrak 12110 devices.

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

Although NAS VTrak 12110 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 VTrak 12110. 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

VTrak 12110 has 12 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 VTrak 12110 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