RAID 5 Data Recovery For Hard Drives and SSD
In the late 1980’s, the concept of what is now referred to as “RAID 5” was developed. With a RAID 5 configuration, data is “striped” across multiple drives with parity information (RAID is an acronym for a “Redundant Array of Independent Disks”). Many server systems, Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems, and desktop systems that contain 3 or more drives will have RAID 5 as a primary or configurable option. This configuration will combine the capacity of each drive into one large storage volume (minus the capacity of one drive). SSD devices are rapidly replacing hard drives in many RAID 5 configurations for many consumer and commercial environments. Hard drives still make up the vast majority of installed RAID 5 volumes, however, as they still maintain the advantages of tremendous storage capability and lower cost.
How Does It Work?
RAID 5 is a storage configuration that allows data to be spread (or written out as a “stripe with parity”) across multiple drives in a volume. Many RAID 5 arrays will contain just 3 drives, although more can be used as needed. The benefits of this configuration are data safety and performance. When a data file is stored across multiple drives as opposed to a single drive, access times are noticeably increased. This configuration is popular in both hardware and software based RAID volumes, and is usually selected when the primary concerns are speed and safety combined. Unlike other RAID configurations, if a single drive fails in a RAID 5 array there is “fault tolerance” (data redundancy using parity). The volume will continue to be accessible in a “degraded” mode (no parity writing takes place) until the failed drive is replaced. Once it’s replaced, the information stored on the failed drive is rebuilt on the new drive using the information stored on the other drives in the array, restoring data protection to the volume.
What Can Go Wrong?
RAID 5 provides some protection against physical failure of one drive in a data volume. However, the risk that more than one drive fails increases as the number of physical drives in the array increases. If two drives fail, all of the data contained in the volume will become immediately inaccessible. No rebuilds are possible with two failed drives. In addition, controller problems that occur during normal operation (or during the rebuild process) can corrupt volume structures. For example, if one or more heads in a single hard drive stop working, the drive may not come “ready” in the array. IC components can be corrupted or fail entirely. Many other problems can occur, which is why it is important that all of the storage devices in the array are evaluated in an “as-failed” state.
When RAID 5 Arrays Fail
VANTEX is your source for professional RAID 5 data recovery for damaged or otherwise inaccessible arrays. We have the tools and procedures in place to quickly and safely recover your data, regardless of the cause. We have decades of recovery experience with file deletions, corruption, viruses and other logical problems within Windows, Linux, Mac, and other operating environments. If data loss is caused by physical or mechanical problems, our dedicated team of recovery specialists can also work to repair, replace or correct problems with heads, firmware, IC components, and other related issues with the affected drives.
Have Questions?
Give us a call to discuss your RAID 5 data loss, or fill out our short Information Request Form. We will outline the possible options and the costs involved – all at no charge, and with absolutely no obligation.