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Data Recovery by Device

RAID Data Recovery

No one can predict when data loss from a RAID will occur, but we know it can be catastrophic when it does. If you suspect a RAID array failure, contact the experts at Ontrack to get your data back as quickly as possible.

Whether your device has suffered physical damage or undergone a logical failure, we offer you a range of services to match your specific needs.

Our experts are on-hand and will respond to your issue immediately. From assisting with troubleshooting to onsite recovery, our wide range of expert recovery options will ensure you receive the very best solution to solve your RAID data loss problem.

What To Do When Experiencing RAID Failure

Nas Unit with Fire Damage

Before doing anything, answer the following questions:

  • What specifically happened/ how did the event unfold?
  • What data is lost?
  • How critical/valuable is this data?
  • Do I have a backup or other means of getting this data back?
  • What are the financial implications of this data loss?

The answers to these questions will be crucial to determining the data recovery next steps.

Often you only have one chance to get the system back up and running and recover stored data, so gathering as much information as possible is important.

Stopwatch

Stop!

The majority of avoidable data damage happens in the first sixty minutes after a failure, the so-called golden hour, due to human action.

Here's a few examples:

  • Swapping wrong disks in the RAID configuration (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10...).
  • Raid corruption by replacing incorrect RAID controller.
  • Forcing disks online.
  • Initialising wrong disks.
  • Failed rebuilds.
  • Restores from incomplete backups on the same system.
  • Performing a VMware Storage vMotion when the storage system has failed.

In all these cases it is essential that all activities are stopped and no further changes are written to the original configuration of the system and the individual storage devices itself. A RAID is the base of most servers, Network Attached Storage (NAS), and Storage Attached Network (SAN). It is often not obvious when the RAID is the underlying cause of a problem.

Often you only have one chance to get the system back up and running and to recover stored data. It is essential to reach out to data recovery experts, Ontrack Engineers will help you to determine how to proceed and will inform you about chances, risks and possible next steps.

Why Ontrack Data Recovery

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Multiple Service Offerings

Ontrack offer's flexible service offerings to meet your unique needs and budgetary considerations. Our experts are on standby 24/7/365.

Recovery Process
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Complete Transparency

We want you to have control over your data recovery process. You'll know exactly what can be recovered before paying.

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Unrivaled Global Expertise

Backed by the world’s largest R&D team, we have the knowledge and ability to address your unique data recovery needs.

Data Recovery by Ontrack
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Ontrack, your RAID data recovery expert

Acknowledged global data recovery leader Ontrack uses advanced techniques to repair, recover and reconstruct RAID data that has become inaccessible.

Our engineers, backed by 35 years of data recovery research, experience and development, have the knowledge and tools to get your data back. You'll know exactly what data is recoverable before committing to the actual recovery. We perform RAID data recoveries on:

  • Any RAID level
  • Any RAID controller, RAID architecture including software-defined storage(SDS)
  • Any hard drive type, make or model

Ontrack is home to the very largest team of specialists who have conducted more than 500,000 data recoveries. With our unrivalled global expertise, your data is in safe hands.

Symptoms of a broken RAID

Many symptoms can hint there is a RAID array failure. 

Obvious symptoms:

  • Error messages
  • Beeping sounds / alarms
  • (Red) light on the server
  • Drives making noises

Less obvious symptoms:

  • Data corruption
  • Database corruption
  • Unable to access files
  • Logical drives disappearing
  • Lost connection to server, volume, share, LUN
  • Volume down
  • System speed
  • System no longer accessible

Common RAID Data Loss Causes

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Mechanical Issues
RAID systems are built to withstand individual drive failure, but once a RAID is running in a degraded state, the workload of the remaining drives increases and so does the risk of additional drive failures. Additional drive failure can lead to failure of the RAID. We have the cleanroom environment and expertise required to recover data from failed drives, combined with the logical skills and tools to rebuild and repair file systems from failed or partially rebuilt RAID systems.
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Power Issues
RAID systems can be affected by loss of power, power cycling and power surges causing loss of data. RAIDs running in a degraded state are especially vulnerable, as power issues can cause out-of-sync drives to be reincorporated into the array. In these cases, our teams have the tools and expertise to map the data and logically rebuild the RAID in order to extract the required data.
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Natural Disasters
Fire, water, dirt and other contaminants from natural disasters can destroy a RAID in an instant. Rebuilding file systems from a RAID affected by a natural disaster takes specialised facilities, knowledge and tools to decontaminate the drives and logically rebuild the data. Ontrack has state-of-the-art tools and cleanroom environments to safely recover from physically damaged drives.
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Human errors
Whether by accident or completed with malicious intent, data loss from reformatting, reinstalling or volume overwrite can occur throughout any organisation of any size. However, with the knowledge and expertise of Ontrack, even the most damaging human error can be conquered by expert data recovery engineers.
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Cyber attacks
Whether conducted through computer information systems, computer networks, infrastructures, or personal computer devices, unwelcome attempts to steal, expose, alter and/or destroy sensitive information through data breaches and cyber attacks cause significant data loss. Ontrack has the tools and expertise to safely recover your data from a malicious cyber attack.
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Ransomware attack
A form of malware, malicious software that encrypts a victim's files, Ransomware attacks prevent an individual from accessing their computer, or any data stored on it. This form of attack can result in the computer itself becoming locked, or the data on it to become stolen, deleted, or encrypted. Ontrack’s expert data recovery engineers can recover data from a ransomware attack.

What Our Customers Say About Our Data Recovery Services

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4-Step Data Recovery Process

We ensure that our process is transparent, quick and safe. You’ll be informed every step of the way for complete peace of mind.

Consultation Consultation

Consultation

Free consultation with quick and direct access to specialists. Contact our experts directly for comprehensive data recovery advice and a no obligation quote. Available 24/7 for business emergencies.

Evaluation Evaluation

Evaluation

After receiving your storage device, our experienced engineers will undertake an in-depth evaluation. We aim to quickly provide you information on how much data we expect to be able to save, how long it will take and at what fixed costs. Sometimes a more extensive diagnosis is necessary, and we will communicate your options to you at every step.

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Data Recovery

With your approval, we recover your data based on your chosen service level. Through our secure portal you can track the status of your recovery.

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Data Return

Once the data has been recovered, we will send it back to you in the agreed manner and encrypted on an external storage device.

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RAID Data Recovery Options

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In-lab RAID Data Recovery
The recovery option to support any type of RAID system, no matter what data loss situation has been experienced. This recovery service is provided in our state-of-the-art data recovery lab and ISO-5/Class 100 cleanroom environment to ensure the safety of your data.
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Remote RAID Data Recovery
Your data is recovered remotely without your media ever leaving your premises. We connect to your system via the Internet to perform a live recovery. Available when the storage device or system is still operational.
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On-site RAID Data Recovery
If your RAID system cannot leave your premises, our engineers can bring their recovery expertise to you. This option is only available for emergency service. For on-site data recovery, the storage device or system must be operational.
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Custom RAID Data Recovery
We offer custom-designed recovery solutions for proprietary RAID systems and/or highly complex enterprise-level systems. Our R&D team will work with your IT staff to create an emergency solution to retrieve your data.
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Client Attended RAID Data Recovery
A specialist version of our in-lab service for highly confidential and sensitive information. Your team of trusted staff can transport the device to our facilities and stay with it during the recovery process, ensuring the data remains guarded. This service is only offered with the appropriate confidentiality agreements and insurance certificates.
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RAID Recovery Tips

  • Never replace a failed hard drive with one that was previously part of a RAID system – ensure you completely erase the replacement drive before use.
  • If a drive makes unusual mechanical noises, turn it off immediately and seek help.
  • Obtain a bit-by-bit image of the hard disks before making any changes to hardware, software, or performing a RAID rebuild.
  • Label the disks with their position in a RAID array.
  • Do not run recovery programs on suspicious volumes. Volume repair tools, such as CHKDSK are designed to force file systems to a consistent state. This can be useful for a single disk system with simple errors. On a RAID system, inconsistency of a volume can usually be traced to problems with the RAID (i.e. out-of-sync disks, failed rebuild, etc). Using CHKDSK in such scenarios can result in harmful and irreversible changes to the file system.
  • Do not run defragmentation programs on suspected failed disks.
  • Do not run volume recovery programs in cases of a power failure on a RAID array, when the file system looks suspicious or is un-mountable, or the data is inaccessible after power is restored.

How Fast Do You Need Your Data Back?

Our team of trusted experts are on standby to help. We offer flexible service offerings to meet your unique needs and budgetary considerations.

Emergency

Emergency

24/7 until completion

Priority

Priority

Average of 3-7 business days

Standard

Standard

5-15 business days

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most reliable level of RAID?

Whether you are setting up a RAID to attach directly to a computer or connecting a NAS on a network, choosing a level of RAID depends on your requirements for performance and data safety. There are multiple levels of RAID, and each uses a specific method for data storage. Some of the most common RAID levels are: RAID 0 (striping) divides data into separate blocks that are distributed over your storage devices. It provides the fastest retrieval to your files because drive access time is reduced. You need a minimum of two drives to use RAID 0. RAID 1 (mirroring) creates an identical copy of all of your data onto another drive (or multiple drives). This helps protect the data should one of the drives fail, but you should always have a separate backup of your data in case both drives fail simultaneously—which does happen.RAID 5 (striping with parity) requires a minimum of 3 drives and offers one of the safest RAID levels. With RAID 5, data is distributed along with parity data, which adds redundancy allowing the RAID to be rebuilt when one of the drives fails.

Are you able to recover data from RAID level 0?

RAID level 0 (striping) spreads blocks of data across multiple drives, which help increase performance. It offers speed, but of all the levels of RAID, it is the most susceptible to potential data loss. Because data is divided into segments and distributed across the drives when one device fails, all data could be lost. Fortunately, Ontrack has over 35 years of experience and has developed hundreds of custom software utilities to address the most challenging data recovery work.

Does a RAID array provide automatic backups?

RAID systems can be configured for use as a backup drive. Software running on a computer or server manages the backups, and files are copied to a RAID which is directly attached or connected to a network as a NAS device.Because RAID systems have more than one drive and use redundancy, there is a common belief that data is protected and doesn't require a secondary backup. But, while redundancy provides some safety against data loss, there is no protection if more than one drive fails.

What is the difference between RAID and NAS?

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) contains multiple drives and attaches directly to a computer system. Used primarily for file storage, RAID is perfect for handling large files required by video editors and audio engineers. NAS (Network Attached Storage) is an appliance that connects via a network and provides file-sharing services. A NAS may contain multiple drives configured with RAID software, or simply contain a single drive.

What should I do if my RAID system crashes?

Hopefully, you have a backup of the RAID data, which would allow you to restore critical files quickly. If you don't have a backup here are some tips to help:
  • Test a rebuild when the RAID is functional to ensure you have it properly configured and the management software installed.
  • Review the RAID documentation and learn how to handle drive failures and rebuilds when you first install the system. If you read the documentation after a failure, you might be too stressed, which can lead to mistakes that can make the data unrecoverable.
  • If you don't have a clear understanding of how the device crashed or the hardware failed, call Ontrack for professional help.

Resources from the Blog

25 June, 2024 6:51:02 AM GMT-04:00

RAID Configurations and Data Recovery

Ontrack and RAID data recovery Ontrack offers data recovery services for all major RAID architectures. This includes, RA

8 November, 2023 6:18:07 AM GMT-05:00

RAID system history and introduction

RAID stands for a Redundant Array of Independent (originally Inexpensive) Disks, and uses the concept of system redundan

6 November, 2023 2:34:15 AM GMT-05:00

RAID 6: A blend of fault tolerance and performance

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Experiences that matter

Ontrack has extensive experience with all types of data loss scenarios. Our goal is to provide our customers with peace of mind in the event of data loss due to hardware failure, human error, natural disasters or cyberattacks.

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