RAID is a powerful data storage architecture that boasts outstanding performance and impressive processing speeds. In addition to its core function of ensuring dependable storage, RAID optimizes system efficiency by intelligently dividing data into multiple segments, allowing for parallel writing operations across an array of disks. This approach not only enhances data protection and fault tolerance but also significantly improves read and write speeds, making it a popular choice for various applications, including enterprise storage systems and data centers.
Implementation, the RAID subsystem in Virtual Machines, is somewhat different from the commonly used one, but the logical division into several levels is standard.
A Linux-based hardware RAID can fail its user at the most inopportune moment. If one of the disks within the array gets disconnected, the whole RAID can not be mounted, and all the files become inaccessible in a second. In this case, you will need a specialized company to rebuild the array with the remaining drives. Our specialists are able to find and display the data that is still there and restore it with minimal losses.
VM Data Recovery
PITS Global Data Recovery Services provides users with an alternative solution for VM data recovery, test environment upgrades, and application restoration with built-in export/import tools.
Backups are commonly used in virtual machines to avoid such problems. Our highly trained engineers have the qualifications and experience to maintain a successful backup. But if compression or encryption is enabled at the backup destination, backup verification cannot be performed on models with specific package architectures: Avoton, Braswell, Bromolow, Cedarview, and Grantley.
It is essential to send all of the disks in the array, including any spare disks, to the company which performs the RAID 5 data recovery process. The RAID enclosure, controller card, and other hardware components, however, are entirely unnecessary.
Our RAID data recovery experts use custom methods to emulate the RAID controller, so we will be able to access the RAID drives to recover data even if the problem is controller failure.
VM RAID 5 Recovery
The virtual disks are connected to the virtual guest OS by emulation of the connection via the corresponding controller, IDE, SATA (AHCI), SCSI, and SAS.
The behavior of the controllers is programmed to simulate physical prototypes, so the IDE controller will run slower than SATA and consume more CPU resources, OS without appropriate drivers and hardware support will not interact with virtual disks, etc.
For example, the Windows family before Windows Vista did not support the Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) to which SATA belongs, so the virtual machine with Windows XP with SATA will not work. The virtual machine failure can include corrupted catalogs, unsupported OS versions, file-size issues, and virtual hard disk corruption.
Recently we received a recovery case of a VM running on a RAID 5 system. The problem was that the hard drives failed, and thus the RAID configuration stopped operating, and data on the Virtual Machine was inaccessible.
VM Data Recovery on a RAID 5 Array
Our engineers ran an evaluation of the hard drive and found out that the microcontroller of the HDD was not operating correctly.
PITS Global Data Recovery Services performs hypervisors and virtual disk data recovery. With virtual machines and disks, there is a difficulty when an administrator on the host network has not made backups or stored them on the same disk. And the script copying did not ensure the fact of backup. Then the administrators start trying to recover on the same disk without making a sector-by-sector copy in the original state to another medium.
In a typical data recovery from a file system located on a regular media, for example, NTFS on a regular hard drive, we have to deal with one hardware level of problems and one abstraction level – the file system.
The classic case of Virtual Machine data recovery is the hardware level and three levels of abstraction.
The first level of abstraction, in this case, was RAID array recovery and its problems. We had to recover the RAID 5 system and retrieve the data of HDDs.
The second level of abstraction was the host file system VMFS, NTFS, etc. The third level of abstraction is the Guest file system. Problems at each level complicated the work with the next. Eventually, they led to an increase in the amount of work and the number of features in the data recovery task.
After the recovery, we applied settings and restored the virtual machine. The backup of the virtual machine was imported to VMM, and the client could turn on the virtual machine in the VMM console.
There are also simple situations – deleted files inside a fully working virtual machine on a healthy drive. But our practice mainly consists of solving complex problems – failed disks, destroyed RAID arrays, and other damage at all data storage levels simultaneously.
If you are dealing with the same failure problem, fill in a request form, and our dedicated customer service representative will get back to you shortly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recover data from a RAID 5 array with VMs after a failure or data loss?
Yes, we specialize in data recovery from RAID 5 arrays, including those used for VM storage. Our experts have the tools and expertise to retrieve data from failed or damaged arrays.
What are common reasons for data loss in VMs stored on a RAID 5 array?
Common causes of data loss in VMs on RAID 5 arrays include hardware failures (e.g., drive failures), RAID controller issues, accidental deletion or corruption of VM files, and file system errors.
Is it safe to attempt DIY recovery methods before contacting professionals?
Attempting DIY recovery on a RAID 5 array with VM data can be risky and may result in further data loss. It’s best to consult professionals who have experience with virtual machine data recovery.
How long does VM data recovery from a RAID 5 array usually take?
The time required for VM data recovery depends on various factors, including the complexity of the recovery process, the number of VMs and their sizes, and the condition of the RAID array. We strive to provide a timely and efficient recovery service.
Can you recover all the VMs and their data from a RAID 5 array?
The success of VM data recovery depends on the extent of data loss and the condition of the RAID 5 array. While we aim to recover as much data as possible, the outcome may vary from case to case.