Raid Controller Failure
Hello everyone,
We have a raid 5 using a highpoint rockeraid 1820a controller card. Several days ago it started to broadcast a message out that the array is failing and when we started to notify a failure we immediately backing up as much data as we can and the raid finally failed on us that we won't be able to swap a replacement drive in to have the raid rebuild. Our server vendor was kind enough to send a technician out to our facility to troubleshoot further where exactly the failure point is. As he dug down further, the technician claimed the raid controller card was the primary failing point. long story short, he recommended to purchase a same or similar raid controller to get the raid rebuilt. So he brought in a similar card to start the rebuild process and the rebuild process took over three days to complete and today we noticed the drive has been rebuild but no data in the drive. At this point, we are very concern about the data within the drives if it's retrievable or not. We want to know your expert opinions if the technician had done his job or would there be a better option if he replace the exact same model of the controller would that make a diff?
To all of the experts in raid and data recovery out there, please let us know your expert opinions and recommendations on this issue. We are truly appreciate and looking forward to your expert opinions...
We have a raid 5 using a highpoint rockeraid 1820a controller card. Several days ago it started to broadcast a message out that the array is failing and when we started to notify a failure we immediately backing up as much data as we can and the raid finally failed on us that we won't be able to swap a replacement drive in to have the raid rebuild. Our server vendor was kind enough to send a technician out to our facility to troubleshoot further where exactly the failure point is. As he dug down further, the technician claimed the raid controller card was the primary failing point. long story short, he recommended to purchase a same or similar raid controller to get the raid rebuilt. So he brought in a similar card to start the rebuild process and the rebuild process took over three days to complete and today we noticed the drive has been rebuild but no data in the drive. At this point, we are very concern about the data within the drives if it's retrievable or not. We want to know your expert opinions if the technician had done his job or would there be a better option if he replace the exact same model of the controller would that make a diff?
To all of the experts in raid and data recovery out there, please let us know your expert opinions and recommendations on this issue. We are truly appreciate and looking forward to your expert opinions...
ASKER
we have 7 drives in the raid 5.
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You said you backed up. So why don't you just create a fresh array then restore from your backups? That is faster and more reliable anyway.
Twice, I've sent data to Ontrack in this similar situation. They were able to pull some small files that fit within block sizes, but anything larger than 512KB (or whatever block size you wrote) will be scrambled. If it's a database file, kiss it goodbye. If you did not have a 100% working and tested backup, that technician was insane for proceeding past anything other than imaging each disk individually and then sending them off to a professional data recovery team...
Always important to have good backups and EDP in your biz insurance.
Always important to have good backups and EDP in your biz insurance.
ASKER
Stampel - there was one drive failed and I believe the raid configuration should be within those drives.
lappladmin, i am sorry but with a RAID5 you have each file splitted out on 6 drives and parity on the 7th drive.
The RAID configuration stands at two places :
- on the board
- on (each) disk
when you replace a RAID controller you have to select option "Import configuration from drive" if the board would not ask automatically.
If you create a new (same) RAID5, your data will be wiped forever.
Since you say you have a RAID5 rebuilt showing no data, i would assume this is a new created RAID5, in this case i think your data are not recoverable, even Ontrack or similar will not be able to recover enough data.
Im sorry.
The RAID configuration stands at two places :
- on the board
- on (each) disk
when you replace a RAID controller you have to select option "Import configuration from drive" if the board would not ask automatically.
If you create a new (same) RAID5, your data will be wiped forever.
Since you say you have a RAID5 rebuilt showing no data, i would assume this is a new created RAID5, in this case i think your data are not recoverable, even Ontrack or similar will not be able to recover enough data.
Im sorry.
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PS. Look into http://www.r-studio.com/
This software lets you image each disk with a boot CD and then play around with a recovery feature-set that is extremely robust.
This software lets you image each disk with a boot CD and then play around with a recovery feature-set that is extremely robust.
If you have lost 2 disks your data are lost forever to me except if one failure is mechanical.
How many drives were in the RAID5 ?
When you say the array was "failing" was it really unusable ? or was it just degraded because one disk was lost ?
How many failed drivers did you see ?