Practical Steps for Accessing RAID Disk Files Without Operational NAS Promise VTrak M210p

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Promise VTrak M210p
• 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 regular software updates and patches enhance the security and stability of NAS Promise VTrak M210p devices?

Regular software updates and patches can enhance the security and stability of NAS Promise VTrak M210p devices in several ways:

1. Security Vulnerability Fixes: Software updates and patches often include fixes for known security vulnerabilities. By regularly updating the device's software, you ensure that any identified security flaws are addressed promptly, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.
2. Bug Fixes: Updates and patches also address software bugs and stability issues. These fixes can prevent crashes, system errors, and other issues that may compromise the stability and performance of the device.
3. Compatibility Improvements: Updates often include compatibility improvements with other software and hardware components. This ensures that the NAS device can work seamlessly with the latest operating systems, applications, and network infrastructures, reducing the risk of compatibility-related vulnerabilities.
4. New Security Features: Updates may introduce new security features or enhancements to existing security mechanisms. These additions can provide additional layers of protection against emerging threats, such as improved encryption algorithms, stronger authentication methods, or enhanced access control mechanisms.
5. Firmware Updates: NAS devices like the Promise VTrak M210p often rely on firmware to control hardware components. Firmware updates can address security vulnerabilities or improve the overall functionality and performance of the device. Keeping the firmware up to date is crucial for maintaining a secure and stable NAS environment.
6. Compliance with Industry Standards: Regular software updates ensure that the NAS device remains compliant with industry standards and best practices. Compliance with standards like ISO 27001 or NIST guidelines helps ensure that security controls are in place and reduces the risk of security incidents.

To benefit from these enhancements, it is recommended to regularly check for updates and patches provided by the manufacturer, apply them promptly, and follow best practices for keeping the NAS device's software up to date.

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

Although the NAS VTrak M210p 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.

   Go to view

   

   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 M210p. 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a Promise

VTrak M210p has 8 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 M210p 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