RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. This type of system was created to increase the security of the data, which doubles to be stored in two units simultaneously, and transfer rate, depending on the type of approach based on the protocol type of RAID you use each system. Except in the case of the RAID 0 (stripping ) marks the fact that this type of system has more security than conventional storage systems. Because of this it is being recommended for companies or users to store and manipulate data of some value that makes them valuable data that cannot afford to lose.
For instance, it is possible that one of the hard drives connected in RAID stop working . You can replace the failed drive without causing any loss of files, and in some cases server ready for it, can be carried out replacement without even having to shutdown. That can be done manually or with the help of any specialized tool. There is software to recover data in such systems, but when dealing with a complex problems. For novice it is recommended that a professional company take care of everything process. Depending on the type of RAID you are using, the chances of success vary, but most professional companies have great technical and human resources capable of solving any problem, whether hardware or software.
Levels in Raid Array
There are several different RAID levels available. It is important to understand each level to learn about your data risk. It also plays an vital role in data recovery and other open up other options :
- RAID 0 - data striping (no data protection). The advantage of this system is that it offers the highest performance.
- RAID 1 - Disk Mirroring (provides data protection by duplicating all data from a primary drive secondary drive in). The advantage of this system is it offers the highest data protection.
- RAID 0/1- This combines both RAID 0 and 1. The benefit here is highest performance + as high as possible data protection.
- RAID 5 - Data Striping with distributed parity (a form of data protection to reconstruct the data drive failed in a disk array). This system offers the best cost performance for multi-drive environments.
- Making a RAID system installed can provide peace of mind. With RAID installed you can rest assured that even in case of system failure your important data safe.
Common reasons due to which RAID does not work :
RAID array is an composite device, so the problems are multiple and complex. The easiest way to divide them into two classes.
The first problems can associate with mechanical malfunction of some parts of the array like :
- broken single disc or multiple discs
- burned array controller
- bent, torn data cable or power cable
- broken backplane
- water, physical damage to the server
and second can be due to following :
- controller is not broken, but the initialization fails due to lost disks, logical volumes, configuration, etc.
- bad sectors in your hard drive
- initialized array / moved the hard disk space
- improper start up after rebuild checkdisk, fsck, etc.
- reformatted or re-install the OS, deleted files, viruses, etc.
Quick Steps to recover data
If the raid array works but does not shows any data, no checkdisk then try to rebuild, initialization, rebuild the array. The data lose here cannot to reverted.
Make sure you know exactly what the problem is. This is very important to analyze the issue and using the most appropriate solution.
Go on some tech forums and have advice for your issue. Explain everything, with images if possible to get most proper free suggestions. Or approach any professional data recovery service.
If you have very important data on that array, then the best answer is do nothing refer to specialists.
Recovering RAID drives :
The main way to recover data from RAID is a software build an image of the array. That can be done by a specialized software. The order of blocks in the array depends on the location on the disk channels and the algorithm of the controller. Before you start, should create clones of all the disks in order to protect themselves from wrong actions. Copies can be made in the form of files or directly to other drives. Work with copies or originals - you decide. I strongly recommend using a paper copy as if the source media are unreadable or volatile sector, working with such a disk can significantly worsen their condition or lead to complete failure.
To build the array, you need to know the parameters with which it was created. This is the block size and the sequence of drives. If you know them, we can assume that half the work is already done, and we saved a lot of time for other, more pleasant matters. If not, you'll need to pick up. You can do that by tool like RaidREconstructor.
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