How to Access Files on a RAID Disk When NAS Promise VTrak A3800fSL is Unreachable: Practical Steps

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Promise VTrak A3800fSL
• 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.

How can RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Promise VTrak A3800fSL devices?

RAID configurations in NAS Promise VTrak A3800fSL devices can have a significant impact on data loss. Here are a few ways RAID can affect data loss in these devices:

1. Redundancy: RAID configurations provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple disks. In case of a disk failure, the data can be recovered from the remaining disks. This reduces the risk of data loss due to hardware failures.
2. Fault tolerance: Different RAID levels offer varying degrees of fault tolerance. For example, RAID 1 and RAID 10 provide mirroring, where data is duplicated on multiple disks. If one disk fails, the data can still be accessed from the mirrored disk. RAID 5 and RAID 6 use parity information to reconstruct data in case of a single or double disk failure, respectively. These fault-tolerant configurations minimize the chances of data loss.
3. Hot spare: Some RAID configurations, such as RAID 5 and RAID 6, allow for the inclusion of a hot spare disk. A hot spare is an unused disk that automatically replaces a failed disk in the array. This reduces the downtime and the risk of data loss during the disk replacement process.
4. Rebuild process: When a failed disk is replaced in a RAID array, the data from the remaining disks is used to rebuild the data on the new disk. The rebuild process can be time-consuming, and during this time, there is a risk of data loss if another disk fails. RAID configurations with higher fault tolerance, such as RAID 6, can withstand multiple disk failures during the rebuild process without losing data.
5. RAID controller failure: In addition to disk failures, RAID configurations can also be impacted by the failure of the RAID controller. The RAID controller manages the array and ensures data integrity. If the RAID controller fails, it can result in data loss or the inability to access the data. Regular backups and redundancy in the RAID configuration can help mitigate this risk.

It is important to note that while RAID configurations can reduce the risk of data loss, they are not foolproof. Other factors such as human error, software issues, or multiple simultaneous disk failures can still lead to data loss. Regular backups and monitoring of the RAID array are essential to minimize the impact of data loss.

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

Although the NAS VTrak A3800fSL 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 VTrak A3800fSL. 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

VTrak A3800fSL has 24 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 VTrak A3800fSL 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