How would you do data recovery from a WD MyBook RAID array?

[RebateMonger]

A caller asked me to recover their data from a nearly-new Western Digital MyBook Premium II RAID box. Lots of important company data was on the array, with no backups (of course). The WD device is no longer functioning.

It wasn't clear whether they had it set in the default, 1 TeraByte, RAID 0 setting, or to the optional 500 GB, RAID 1 mirrored configuration. Obviously the former would likely mean a real disaster.

These boxes hold two drives in either RAID 0 (default) or RAID 1 configuration. The drives are quickly removable (at least that's something). But they apparently don't use NTFS formatting, since they require drivers to talk to PCs on the network. Looks like they use HFS+ format?

I sent them elsewhere (to Ontrack), since I had no idea where to start on recovering data from these. Even in RAID 1 configuration, how do you handle recovery from such a device? The RAID controller is built into the WD box, and I have no idea whose controller they use.

Anybody have any insight into these boxes? Thanks!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I don't quite understand the situation? Where they using the WD as a backup device and the machine they were backing up died? Or were they using it as additional storage and the device itself died?

If it's the first schenario I would assume that the software that came with the WD Worldbook could be loaded on any networked computer to recover files off the device.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
I don't quite understand the situation? Where they using the WD as a backup device and the machine they were backing up died? Or were they using it as additional storage and the device itself died?

They were using the WD RAID device as their sole data storage. And it died. With no backup.

I edited my original post to make this a bit more clear and to eliminate a careless technical mistake I made.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
I don't quite understand the situation? Where they using the WD as a backup device and the machine they were backing up died? Or were they using it as additional storage and the device itself died?

They were using the WD RAID device as their sole data storage. And it died. With no backup.

This is natures way of thinning the herd. :laugh:
They shouldn't be operating a PC.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
I don't quite understand the situation? Where they using the WD as a backup device and the machine they were backing up died? Or were they using it as additional storage and the device itself died?

They were using the WD RAID device as their sole data storage. And it died. With no backup.

This isn't the fault of the hardware any more, it's the people who decided not to have a backup strategy 🙁.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Blain
This is natures way of thinning the herd. :laugh:
They shouldn't be operating a PC.

Actually, the AREN'T operating a PC. They are using Macintoshes. 😛

Anyway, this whole episode has got me wondering what's going to happen as all those low-end NAS devices being sold start to fail. You KNOW most of the owners aren't keeping backups anywhere. JackMDS has noted that most don't use NTFS formatting. I have to admit I'm completely unequipped to recover data from Linux or Macintosh formatted partitions.

BTW, Newegg and Amazon reviews for the WD devices aren't promising. LOTS of first-year failures. They don't even have cooling fans for the drives.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

BTW, Newegg and Amazon reviews for the WD devices aren't promising. LOTS of first-year failures. They don't even have cooling fans for the drives.

Most of the cases that come with fans are inadequate in my opinion. They are small quiet 40mm and don't move air at all. I've had plenty of external cases get way to hot even though they have afan, hot enough that you don't want to hold your hand on. If anything they need a fan in front and in back.

At home lately I have one that I positioned an 80mm on because it was getting warm after a few hrs of data transfer.

At work we are using e-sata for backup and they did go with the cases with the fans. At least our server room is set to 65f, the cases stay alot cooler.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Blain
This is natures way of thinning the herd. :laugh:
They shouldn't be operating a PC.

Actually, the AREN'T operating a PC. They are using Macintoshes. 😛

"PC" = "Personal Computer"
Could be a Mac or IBM clone :laugh:

 

[Old Hippie]

Most of the cases that come with fans are inadequate in my opinion.

Ya, but at least you have a chance with a little fresh air.

The drives are "Rare" instead of "Well-done"! 😀

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: mooseracing
Most of the cases that come with fans are inadequate in my opinion. They are small quiet 40mm and don't move air at all. I've had plenty of external cases get way to hot even though they have afan, hot enough that you don't want to hold your hand on. If anything they need a fan in front and in back.

I've been using Apricorn housings, which have a large (80mm or so) horizontal fan (don't know what those are called), and they seem to keep the drives pretty cool despite hours of constant use for making daily backups of servers.

 

[0roo0roo]

depends on the drive inside as well. i've had seagate external drives inside sealed plastic cases..those weird looking black ones and they are barely warm without any active cooling. so that means the drive inside must not be making much heat in the first place. i've had others like acomdata bought in the same time period with tight fitting aluminum casing that one would think would make for great heatsinking but in actuality was so hot to the touch it was frightening.

seagates been humming along for a year now😛