Question 6 drive NAS to 5 drive external HD enclosure

[smooz2023]

I have a dedicated 6-drive NAS which failed; I can't remember which RAID configuration I set it at, but I suspect it is one that allows for one or two drives to fail (simultaneously). At this time, I just want to retrieve the data.

I am considering a 5-drive, external RAID unit. If I understand RAID correctly, with the configuration that one drive can fail, I should be able to put 5 of the 6 drives in the new unit and be able to retrieve the data.

Am I correct?

Thank you for considering this question.

Lawrence

 

[rgd1101]

if it still work, why not just get the data from the old nas?

 

[smooz2023]

if it still work, why not just get the data from the old nas?

First sentence of original post: "I have a dedicated 6-drive NAS which failed."

"Still work" does not equal "Failed"

Lawrence

ps. Thank you for your response.

 

[rgd1101]

so how did you know only 1 or 2 drives failed?
where the backup?
sound more like the raid failed which mean lost data.

 

[Misgar]

Hardware RAID? Software RAID? A lot depends on the answer. You're working blind at the moment. Hand the kit over to a professional recovery house if you don't have a backup.

I transferred an 8-disk TrueNAS Core array from an HP Server to a tower PC and it worked perfectly, but there was nothing wrong with the SAS disks before I moved them.

Is your NAS Synology, Qnap, or something else?

 

[smooz2023]

so how did you know only 1 or 2 drives failed?

where the backup?

I said the NAS failed. I also said, " I can't remember which RAID configuration I set it at, but I suspect it is one that allows for one or two drives to fail (simultaneously). " I never said any drives failed.

I don't have a car...therefore, I can't back up. When you are working with RAID that allows for drives to fail, a backup doesn't seem important. And I don't need any scolding about it IS important.

Thank you for responding.

Lawrence

 

[smooz2023]

Hardware RAID? Software RAID? A lot depends on the answer. You're working blind at the moment. Hand the kit over to a professional recovery house if you don't have a backup.

I transferred an 8-disk TrueNAS Core array from an HP Server to a tower PC and it worked perfectly, but there was nothing wrong with the SAS disks before I moved them.

Is your NAS Synology, Qnap, or something else?

Software RAID.

re; Professional recover house...cost is huge. Already checked that.

re: something else...TrueNAS.

Thank you for your reply.

Lawrence

 

[fzabkar]

This tool can autodetect the RAID parameters:

http://www.freeraidrecovery.com/

DMDE can autodetect the RAID parameters, assemble a virtual RAID, and recover your data. DMDE can also work with the RAID parameters that you supply.

https://dmde.com/

 

[smooz2023]

This tool can autodetect the RAID parameters:

http://www.freeraidrecovery.com/

DMDE can autodetect the RAID parameters, assemble a virtual RAID, and recover your data. DMDE can also work with the RAID parameters that you supply.

https://dmde.com/

Thank you for your response.

This gets into an area that is not part of the original question, and that is on purpose. The NAS is not connected to Internet, the OS on the NAS failed and I'm looking for a solution that does NOT require fixing the OS, so please don't go there.

I will keep those two URLs, as they could be useful at some future point.

I really do appreciate your answer, but it is not pertinent to the original question.

Lawrence

 

[fzabkar]

IIUC, you want to intentionally degrade a 6-drive RAID to 5 drives, then place the degraded RAID into a 5-drive NAS. I can't imagine that this would work, since the RAID has metadata which would probably not be recognised by a foreign 6-drive NAS, let alone a foreign 5-drive NAS.

IMHO, the only plausible solution is to backup your RAID with data recovery software, and then copy the recovered data to your new RAID.

 

[kanewolf]

I said the NAS failed. I also said, " I can't remember which RAID configuration I set it at, but I suspect it is one that allows for one or two drives to fail (simultaneously). " I never said any drives failed.

I don't have a car...therefore, I can't back up. When you are working with RAID that allows for drives to fail, a backup doesn't seem important. And I don't need any scolding about it IS important.

Thank you for responding.

Lawrence

What make/model was the NAS? Some have hardware encryption built-in. If that is the case you probably can't access your data.
Commercial NAS units are generally Linux software based. There are several file system types which could have been used. Being able to recreate the volume is one step required. But will the file system also be supported in your 5 drive cabinet? Unknown.

 

[smooz2023]

IIUC, you want to intentionally degrade a 6-drive RAID to 5 drives, then place the degraded RAID into a 5-drive NAS. I can't imagine that this would work, since the RAID has metadata which would probably not be recognised by a foreign 6-drive NAS, let alone a foreign 5-drive NAS.

IMHO, the only plausible solution is to backup your RAID with data recovery software, and then copy the recovered data to your new RAID.

I suppose you are correct, though I never considered the process as one of degrading.

re: plausible solution...Since, as I said in a previous answer, the OS is what failed, I can't operate the machine that contains the 6-drive RAID. This is why I asked the question as I did.

But your response presents information that I wasn't aware of; and I appreciate it.

So, it looks like I regenerate that data on my desktop (which is possible, but I don't know specifically what was on the NAS) or fix the OS (which I'm not too fond of doing.)

Thank you for your response

Lawrence

 

[kanewolf]

I suppose you are correct, though I never considered the process as one of degrading.

re: plausible solution...Since, as I said in a previous answer, the OS is what failed, I can't operate the machine that contains the 6-drive RAID. This is why I asked the question as I did.

But your response presents information that I wasn't aware of; and I appreciate it.

So, it looks like I regenerate that data on my desktop (which is possible, but I don't know specifically what was on the NAS) or fix the OS (which I'm not too fond of doing.)

Thank you for your response

Lawrence

What was the NAS device manufacturer's recommendation ?

 

[smooz2023]

What make/model was the NAS? Some have hardware encryption built-in. If that is the case you probably can't access your data.
Commercial NAS units are generally Linux software based. There are several file system types which could have been used. Being able to recreate the volume is one step required. But will the file system also be supported in your 5 drive cabinet? Unknown.

First
Recursion: n.
see Recursion

I love it!!

If you continue to read the thread, you will find out that it is the OS that failed.

re: make and model NAS....I built the server in 2015 and I am using TrueNAS.

re: support 5-drive cabinet...That would be connected to my Desktop, and I would transfer 5 of the 6 drives to the cabinet. I would then (hopefully) be able to access the data and move it.

However I believe fzabkar 's response is worth considering.

Lawrence

 

[smooz2023]

What was the NAS device manufacturer's recommendation ?

HAHAHAH. The NAS manufacturer was ME!

Lawrence

 

[fzabkar]

Some of these NAS boxes store the OS in a small partition on the RAID array. That would be an additional complication.

That said, I know nothing about TrueNAS, so my observation may be irrelevant.

 

[kanewolf]

HAHAHAH. The NAS manufacturer was ME!

Lawrence

So not a commercial NAS. You had a host functioning as a NAS.
Software RAID with what OS ?

 

[smooz2023]

Some of these NAS boxes store the OS in a small partition on the RAID array. That would be an additional complication.

That said, I know nothing about TrueNAS, so my observation may be irrelevant.

OS is on a separate drive, but it has failed.

 

[fzabkar]

Why can't you simply install the OS on new drive? :-?

I presume the software RAID would be based on mdadm.

 

[smooz2023]

Why can't you simply install the OS on new drive? :-?

I presume the software RAID would be based on mdadm.

"Simply"???

Because I'm lazy!

If what I asked would work, which it appears it won't, that would be an easier solution.

However, installing and configuring the OS (TrueNAS) is a b***h. I've had the OS drive fail before, and setting everything up was quite onerous. I've been trying to think up some "easier" way to fix it. ::sigh:: It is for me an "all day" process, as I have to learn the setup all over again...I don't remember what to do.

Thank you for your response

Lawrenc

 

[fzabkar]

ISTM that you could save an image of your boot drive to a reserved area in your array.

For example, let's say your boot image occupies N GB. You could truncate the capacity of each of your drives by this same amount, and then use dd to copy the image into the unallocated space. Creating a HPA (with hdparm) would hide this area from the OS. You would then have 6 copies of your OS image which you could restore to a new drive with dd (and hdparm).

 

[USAFRet]

The second best way to fix this is another TrueNAS install configured exactly as the old one was, and then connect relevant drives.

This may or may not work, due to the differing external enclosures.

Not knowing what type of RAID array is also problematic. RAID 5, 6, something else?
The new TrueNAS install needs to know this.


The best way is to simply build up some new system, and recover the data from your backup.
But as apparently the concept of a real backup is off the table, the best is a moot point.

 

[Misgar]

re: make and model NAS....I built the server in 2015 and I am using TrueNAS.

Are you sure you built the system in 2015 using TrueNAS? Might it have been FreeNAS?

Prior to the merger in October 2020:-

TrueNAS was the enterprise version for organizations of all sizes that need additional uptime and performance, as well as the enterprise-grade support necessary for critical data and applications.

FreeNAS was the free Open Source version with an expert community.

https://www.truenas.com/blog/freenas-truenas-unification/

It takes less than an hour to create bootable FreeNAS or TrueNAS Core Installation Media on DVD or USB, then install the OS on a spare HDD or SSD. You can then boot into FreeNAS or TrueNAS Core and see if the array is detected.

https://www.truenas.com/blog/how-to-install-truenas-core/

I don't have a car...therefore, I can't back up.
My apologies, but I still haven't worked out why it's impossible to copy data without a car.