Is this a failed RAID due to an array of dead disks, a bad rebuild, or does the RAID controller have its configuration lost? We recover all levels of RAID: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10 and beyond, from your NAS devices, servers, and direct attached storage (DAS) units. Each disk is copied as an image prior to rebuilding the array with the copies made from the images; therefore, we do not use your original disks.
Are your RAIDs offline? Have you lost a second disk on one of them? Has a rebuild got stuck? Stop. Do not allow the rebuild to continue or the array to re-initialise or re-sync. Do not force the disks back into service in the wrong order. Rebuilding will write over the exact same area where the information resides that we are trying to recover. In addition, putting disks back into service in an incorrect sequence will only make matters worse. Shut down the device immediately. Label each disk’s position if possible and contact us. Your first opportunity at recovering the data is the best opportunity.
These are the RAID failures that we recover from the majority of times: RAID failure due to multiple disk failure; RAID failure due to controller failure; RAID failure due to incorrect configuration; RAID failure due to other logical errors.
All RAID levels and configurations (hardware, software and NAS-based) from any controller (any manufacturer) from two-disk mirrors to multi-array servers. Everything that’s possible depends upon how your configuration is set up, not upon whether we’re able to accept your project.
RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 and JBOD · hardware, software (mdadm, Storage Spaces), fakeRAID · Dell PERC, HP Smart Array, LSI MegaRAID, Adaptec and Areca controllers · NAS products by Synology, QNAP, NETGEAR, Buffalo and Drobo · servers, DAS and workstations.
RAID recovery will rebuild the RAID array in such a way that we will never write to your original hard drives. Every one of the disks which make up your RAID will be read-only copied using specialised equipment. Once all disks have been read-only copied into our system we will then determine exactly how the original array was laid out and then we will rebuild it completely in a virtual environment; this way we are able to recover data from your original RAID and protect them at the same time.
Give us as much information about your RAID configuration as possible: what RAID type do you have? How many disks are in your RAID? And lastly, what happened to cause your RAID failure? We will provide a written quotation based upon our assessment of your failed RAID array usually within 48 hours. If possible, take note of your disk order prior to removing power to the affected disk(s).
All member drives including those that are failing or failed will be read-only copied to an external copy device. The entire process is done using these read-only copies of each drive and therefore your original disks will never be touched during the course of recovering your data.
If one of your disks fails due to mechanical or electronic failure, we will swap its head, rebuild the board etc. enough to make an image of that disk. For drive-based repairs we require a deposit of 50% of our total quote up front.
Once we have made an image of all disks in the RAID set we can determine which RAID configuration was being used (disk order, stripe-size, parity-rotation and parity-offset) from the images. Then we can recreate the RAID set virtually.
Using the recreated RAID set, we can then build the original volume back together and pull off the copies of your files, database(s), VMs and shared resources using the most stable version of your data.
Before anything is returned to you, we test that everything we pulled off opens successfully and is complete.
Your data will be returned to you on new storage media (or an additional NAS unit), that matches the size of the restored volume, allowing you to immediately begin using it again.
We do not care about what type of RAID you use, nor what controller you have; we will image every single disk and create the RAID set virtually on top of those images, leaving your original data safe from harm.
Tell us what happened and we’ll get back to you, usually within a working day.
We’ll be in touch shortly. If it’s urgent, call 0191 406 1051.
Clear, tiered pricing for RAID recovery: a free diagnosis will be provided and you will receive a written quote prior to any work commencing.
There have been several successful RAID recoveries due to multi-disk failure, failed rebuilds, dead controllers and reconfiguring. Details removed; however, we can confirm that each was successfully recovered (verified).
This customer did not realise one of their disks had failed weeks prior; when another disk died, they were unable to access their data. We took an image of all six disks and rebuilt the RAID array to recover all of their data.
In this case both drives had issues; neither was completely dead. We repaired and copied images of each drive, and then rebuilt the mirror to recover their data.
The rebuild of the system partially overwrote some data in the array. So we took images of all of the disks and restored the original configuration so that we could recover the volume.
The NAS equipment has failed; however, the disks are intact. Therefore, we simply used the layout information from the disks to rebuild an SHR volume off the box.
Since there was no redundancy, failure of one single disk stopped access to a RAID 0. We repaired the failed disk; then we imaged (made copies of) each and built back the striped RAID to restore the users’ project files.
Since very little new data had been created since the failure, we restored the original RAID 5 configuration and were able to recover the user’s shares and backup files.
When you send the unit in for its free diagnostic, let us know what happened with the unit. An engineer will review the unit and confirm your quote in writing prior to starting on your recovery.
Before you post or drop off your device, please get a quote from us by phone or with the form. Once we receive your device, our recovery process can start. Safely pack your device, include your name and contact information within the packaging and ship it to us. After performing your free diagnostic, we’ll send you a written confirmation of the exact price of our services prior to starting any work.
If you decide to post it, we would advise using a trackable and insured postal service. Or if you prefer to drop it off, we are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, and you don’t need an appointment. Just pack the unit as described in step one before dropping it off.
Would you like a little more background information prior to sending it? Fill in the form to provide more details about your problem; an engineer will evaluate it and reply with a customised quote.
We’ll be in touch shortly. If it’s urgent, call 0191 406 1051.
On this page we are going to look at each of the levels of RAID array recovery and two require an individual paragraph. RAID 0 will stripe data across multiple disks without providing redundancy. If a single disk becomes unavailable then all of the data will also become unavailable. However, you can successfully recover a RAID 0 by imaging each of the disks and virtually rebuilding the original stripe set using copies of the data. RAID 5 can survive up to one failing disk but has a major weakness during rebuilds. When building back your array after losing one disk, if another disk fails while you are in the process of doing so you may lose everything. It would be best to power off any degraded RAID 5 before attempting to recover it and then image all of the disks rather than attempt to rebuild in place. Once all of the disks have been imaged then work on recreating the RAID structure from the most consistent copies. The other forms of RAID (RAID 6 and RAID 10) follow similar practices. Members must be imaged prior to working on creating an exact replica of the RAID structure using the copied images.
Some of the most frequently asked questions we get when someone is trying to recover a RAID array.
Yes generally. A RAID 5 will go offline once two disks fail because it can only recover from one disk loss. However it is common for the first disk to have failed previously with data being recoverable. We will therefore create images of all disks including those which are failed and rebuild the RAID set from the most consistent data possible. Do not let it rebuild as this can write over your data.
Often not, but stop now. The most common loss of an array comes after a rebuild has failed or was cancelled. In this event we will have stopped the rebuild process, imaged each member as read-only and will be able to recreate your original array using those images, which minimises what would otherwise be total loss.
Most likely. Although the controller or NAS itself may be gone and therefore unable to provide access to the data stored upon the hard drives, the actual data (array) is still intact. We will simply read the array layout from the hard drive(s), make an exact copy of the data and then rebuild the volume based upon that information, independent of the failed hardware. It is not necessary for the original hardware to function at all.
Absolutely. If possible, include labels showing where each disk fits into the array (if you know). Since RAID recovery involves recreating the array from all available disks (failed and good alike), there is often valuable data on the failed disk(s) that we will use to complete missing pieces of the puzzle.
RAID 1 mirroring recovery costs start from £500 (plus VAT). Recovery costs for multi-disk arrays (RAID 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60) will depend on how many drives need recovering and the complexity of the recovery, starting from £800 plus VAT. All jobs have a free diagnostic and a formal quote before commencing any work. In most cases you only pay if we recover your data.
In most cases, yes. For drive-level repair jobs we ask for a 50% deposit prior to starting work on your project and charge you the balance when we successfully recover your data. If we cannot recover it, then you don’t pay the remainder of our fee.
All levels and controllers of RAID systems (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, RAID 50, RAID 60 and JBOD) hardware, software, NAS, Dell, HP, LSI, Adaptec, Areca, Synology, QNAP etc. We determine the recovery process based on the type of RAID system you have, not if the data can be recovered.
Yes. The majority of Synology and QNAP units use some form of RAID (often SHR or RAID 5), and as such we can recover them if there has been a failure within either the disk(s), volume, or NAS hardware itself. We do this by rebuilding the array off the box, therefore you should be able to recover your shares and backups even when a NAS unit fails.
Most often yes. After we rebuild your array, we then recover whatever data exists on it (VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines, SQL and other database systems, shared folder data and backup data), and verify that the files are good before sending them back to you.
Generally we will turn a RAID 1 mirror around within 3 to 4 workdays. Larger sets can take 4 to 7 workdays depending on how many members there are and what needs to happen at the disk level prior to imaging. Normally our free diagnostics arrive within 48 hours of receipt. In some cases pressing business requirements may allow a customer’s job to “jump” the queue.
Please bring your disks to our Newcastle office Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. Alternatively please insure your disks and post them to us. Also include all disks from the RAID set individually identified by their slot positions and clearly separated so none of the disks rattle together during transit. Additionally please provide us with your full name, postal address and contact telephone number and email details. This information allows us to record your job and make you a quotation before starting any recovery process.
Usually yes, assuming no one forces an action. RAID 0 has no redundancy so the moment one member dies the whole array dies; however the data remains available on the members of the stripe set. To recover the data we simply create images of all members then restore the failed member(s) to a usable state on the bench as required, and reassemble the original stripe set virtually. Any action which prevents this occurring includes initialising the array again after failure or using any part of the original array before creating an image.
We offer a free diagnosis of your problem and charge by the tier (starting at £800 for multi-disk RAID setups), and in most cases you only pay if we recover your data. Regardless of what RAID setup or controller you have (NAS or server based), we can usually recover your data.