A financial services company in London relied on a Synology NAS system configured with a 16-disk RAID 10 array for secure storage of client records, financial reports, and transaction logs. RAID 10 offers redundancy and performance by combining RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 0 (striping). Despite its resilience, the system suffered a catastrophic failure due to multiple disk failures.
The company contacted Advanced Data Recovery, London’s leading data recovery company, to retrieve the critical data urgently.
The Problem
The RAID 10 array suffered from:
- Simultaneous Disk Failures:
- Three disks failed within the RAID, breaking the redundancy and rendering the array inoperable.
- The NAS system could not rebuild the array or access any data.
- Logical and Physical Issues:
- One failed disk had physical damage with read/write head issues.
- The remaining failed disks had bad sectors and partial corruption of RAID metadata.
- Critical Data at Risk:
- The array stored sensitive financial data, and the company lacked a recent backup, making recovery an urgent necessity.
The Data Recovery Process by Advanced Data Recovery
Step 1: Initial Assessment
Advanced Data Recovery initiated a thorough evaluation:
- Disk Imaging: Each of the 16 disks was cloned to secure raw data and avoid further degradation during recovery efforts.
- Disk Health Analysis: The three failed disks were analyzed for physical damage, bad sectors, and recoverable areas. One disk required component-level repairs.
- RAID Parameters Identification: The RAID configuration, including stripe size, parity layout, and disk order, was reconstructed from metadata and analysis of functional disks.
Step 2: Repair and Stabilization
To maximize recovery potential:
- Physical Repairs: The physically damaged disk was repaired in an ISO Class 5 cleanroom, replacing the damaged read/write heads with donor components.
- Bad Sector Management: Advanced imaging tools were used to extract data from the degraded disks, bypassing unreadable sectors where possible.
Step 3: RAID Reconstruction
- Virtual Array Reconstruction: Using the cloned disk images, a virtual RAID 10 array was rebuilt in a controlled environment. Missing and corrupted metadata were manually reconstructed based on RAID algorithms.
- File System Recovery: The file system (ext4) used by the Synology NAS was partially corrupted due to the failed disks. Logical errors were repaired to reconstruct the directory structure.
Step 4: Data Extraction
- Critical Data First: The recovery team prioritized sensitive client records and financial logs identified by the client.
- Complete Data Recovery: The remaining data, including transaction logs, reports, and archived files, were recovered systematically.
Step 5: Validation and Delivery
- Data Validation: All recovered files were validated for integrity and usability.
- Secure Delivery: The recovered data was transferred to a new high-capacity external storage solution and securely delivered to the client.
Challenges Faced
- Complex RAID Structure: Reconstructing a 16-disk RAID 10 array with three failed disks required advanced knowledge of RAID algorithms and manual metadata repair.
- Physical Disk Damage: One disk required extensive repair due to mechanical failure.
- Time Sensitivity: The client’s business operations depended on the recovered data, necessitating expedited processing.
Outcome
Advanced Data Recovery achieved:
- 99% recovery success, including all critical financial records and transaction logs.
- A five-day turnaround, minimizing disruption to the client’s operations.
- Recommendations for implementing a robust backup strategy and proactive RAID monitoring.
Lessons Learned
- RAID is Not a Backup: While RAID provides redundancy, it is not a substitute for regular, external backups.
- Disk Health Monitoring: Proactive monitoring and replacing aging disks can prevent simultaneous failures.
- Seek Professional Help: Attempting DIY repairs or reinitialization of a failed RAID can worsen data loss.
Why Choose Advanced Data Recovery (London)?
- RAID Experts: Decades of experience in handling complex RAID configurations and failures.
- Advanced Tools: Proprietary software for virtual RAID reconstruction and logical data recovery.
- Cleanroom Facilities: Cleanrooms for safe handling of physically damaged disks.
- Rapid Turnaround: Emergency services for time-critical recovery needs.
This case highlights Advanced Data Recovery’s expertise in resolving complex RAID failures, ensuring clients can recover critical data quickly and securely.