A large healthcare organization in London faced a catastrophic failure with their HP ProLiant server, configured with a 12-disk RAID 6 array. The server, which housed critical patient records, billing data, and operational files, suffered simultaneous issues:
- The RAID controller failed, rendering the array inaccessible.
- Two of the 12 disks in the RAID array failed, exceeding RAID 6’s redundancy tolerance.
The organization urgently contacted Advanced Data Recovery, London’s best data recovery company, to recover their critical data.
The Problem
The HP ProLiant server failure involved:
- RAID Controller Failure:
- A hardware fault caused the RAID controller to stop functioning, preventing the RAID array from initializing.
- Multiple Disk Failures:
- Two drives failed, one due to a mechanical read/write head issue and the other due to bad sectors and logical corruption.
- Critical Data at Risk:
- The server contained confidential and irreplaceable patient and operational data with no viable backup.
The Data Recovery Process by Advanced Data Recovery
Step 1: Initial Assessment
The recovery team performed an extensive evaluation:
- RAID Analysis:
- The RAID 6 configuration was analysed to determine the stripe size, parity distribution, and disk order.
- Disk Diagnostics:
- Each of the 12 drives was assessed individually. Two drives were confirmed to have critical physical and logical issues.
- Controller Examination:
- The RAID controller firmware was found to be corrupted, causing the RAID metadata to become unreadable.
Step 2: Drive Repair and Imaging
To secure the data:
- Cleanroom Repairs:
- The mechanically failed drive was repaired in an ISO Class 5 cleanroom, with read/write heads replaced using donor parts.
- Sector Imaging:
- Advanced imaging tools were used to create bit-for-bit clones of all functional drives, including partial imaging of the degraded drives with bad sectors.
Step 3: Virtual RAID Reconstruction
The RAID 6 array was reconstructed virtually:
- Metadata Reconstruction:
- RAID metadata from the healthy drives was extracted and manually rebuilt to simulate the original configuration.
- Missing Parity Reconstruction:
- Using proprietary tools, missing data from the failed drives was reconstructed by calculating parity from the remaining drives.
- File System Recovery:
- The ext4 file system was analysed and repaired to restore directory structures and file metadata.
Step 4: Data Extraction
- Selective Recovery:
- Priority was given to patient records, billing data, and operational files specified by the client.
- Full Data Recovery:
- All accessible data was extracted systematically to ensure no critical files were missed.
Step 5: Validation and Delivery
- Integrity Check:
- Recovered data was tested for completeness and accuracy to ensure it was free of corruption.
- Secure Transfer:
- The recovered files were transferred to a new RAID array provided by the client, with encryption for added security.
Challenges Faced
- Simultaneous Failures:
- The combination of RAID controller failure and two disk failures exceeded RAID 6’s fault tolerance, complicating reconstruction.
- Physical Drive Damage:
- The read/write head failure required precision repairs, while bad sectors on another disk posed challenges during imaging.
- Critical Data Sensitivity:
- Handling highly confidential patient data required strict adherence to data security and compliance standards.
Outcome
Advanced Data Recovery successfully:
- Recovered 97% of the data, including all critical patient records and operational files.
- Delivered the recovered data within 7 days, minimizing downtime for the healthcare organization.
- Provided recommendations for implementing a robust backup system and RAID health monitoring tools.
Lessons Learned
- RAID is Not a Backup:
- RAID provides redundancy but cannot replace regular, offsite backups for disaster recovery.
- Monitor RAID Health:
- Use tools to proactively monitor disk health and replace aging drives before failures occur.
- Act Quickly:
- Avoid attempting DIY recovery on failed RAID arrays, as it can worsen the situation.
Why Choose Advanced Data Recovery (London)?
- RAID Recovery Experts:
- Specialized expertise in recovering data from complex RAID configurations, including RAID 6.
- Cleanroom Facilities:
- Cleanrooms for safe handling and repair of physically damaged drives.
- Advanced Tools:
- Proprietary software for RAID reconstruction, parity calculation, and file system repair.
- Secure Handling:
- Adherence to strict data security protocols for handling sensitive information.
This case demonstrates Advanced Data Recovery’s ability to resolve complex RAID failures and deliver critical results quickly and securely.