How to Access Files on a RAID Disk Without NAS Promise VTrak E610s Functionality: Practical Steps

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Promise VTrak E610s
• 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 user training or education help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Promise VTrak E610s devices?

User training or education can help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Promise VTrak E610s devices in the following ways:

1. Understanding device features and functionalities: Proper training can help users understand the capabilities and limitations of the NAS device. This knowledge can prevent users from making unintentional mistakes that may lead to data loss, such as misconfigurations or improper handling of data.
2. Backup and recovery procedures: Educating users about the importance of regular backups and the correct procedures for backing up and recovering data can help minimize data loss incidents. Users should be trained on how to set up automated backups, verify backups, and restore data from backups in case of data loss.
3. Security best practices: Users should be educated on security best practices to protect data from unauthorized access or cyber threats. This includes setting up strong passwords, enabling encryption, regularly updating firmware and software, and being cautious about phishing or social engineering attacks.
4. Proper handling and maintenance: Training users on how to handle the NAS device properly, including precautions during installation, maintenance, and physical handling, can minimize the risk of physical damage that may result in data loss.
5. Monitoring and proactive maintenance: Users should be trained to monitor the NAS device regularly for any signs of potential issues, such as disk failures, storage capacity limitations, or network connectivity problems. This proactive approach can help identify and resolve problems before they lead to data loss.
6. Reporting incidents and seeking assistance: Users should be educated on how to report any incidents or issues they encounter promptly. This ensures that IT or support personnel can address the problems in a timely manner, reducing the chances of data loss and minimizing the impact if an incident occurs.

Overall, user training or education plays a crucial role in creating awareness about data loss prevention measures and promoting responsible usage of NAS devices, thereby minimizing data loss incidents.

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

Although the NAS VTrak E610s 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 E610s. 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 E610s 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 VTrak E610s 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