RAID and Server Data Recovery Process – How We Recover Your Lost Data
The most important aspect of any data recovery, whether it be from a single hard disk drive, failed RAID 5 server or even a node within a SAN (Storage Area Network), is the process that is followed to ensure that no further data loss can occur.
At R3 Data Recovery we guarantee to eliminate further risks by following the procedures outlined below:
- Firstly all member drive from your array that are working correctly will be cloned to stable reliable hard disk media.
- All failed drives will be repaired and stabilised, once they are in a suitable state for a clone to be made, these too will be cloned.
- Once clones of each hard drive have been made the original media will be put into safe storage – from here the drives are no longer required.
- Using the clones as a basis your array is scanned by our data recovery experts in order to determine how the array was configured, and the parameters used within the array – remember: It is rare that two arrays, even if configured with the same hardware, will be identical in areas such as stripe size, parity rotation, disk order, partition type, etc..
- Once the parameters of your array have been successfully determined the array goes through a de-striping process, at the end of this the partitions are available to be mounted using our custom RAID recovery software.
- Once mounted checks are completed, these checks involve copying a selection of your missing files to our secure servers where their integrity is tested.
**Important: When attempting to recover data from a failed RAID array ALWAYS make clones of the devices before attempting any procedure that may write any data to a hard disk drive or the array as a whole. Processes such as initialisation, rebuild attempts, reconfiguration or anything that has any potential to cause further damage either a full backup or a clone of each individual member should be taken. Also ensure that any IT professional or data recovery organisation attempting to recover your data DOES NOT do so on the original media – if they do not have the know-how to make images of the devices/array, they are not qualified to recover your data in the first place.
