Guide to Raid Data Recovery

by admin September 18, 2011 at 6:00 am

To have the efficiency in working and delivering, many companies today use computer storage and servers to manage data and organize important business files and information. Storage devices vary and depend on the volume of data that will be stored and amassed by users. These files stored are very important and should always be backed up – no exceptions. One of the efficient and convenient forms of storage back up is through raid array configuration.

Understanding raid array and how it works is a bit complicated but a good way to start comprehending raid data recovery. Raid configuration is used for large storage and servers common in huge companies or small and medium businesses. There are different levels of raid. Common levels used are 0, 1 and 5. These different raid levels work in almost same ways, but for different purposes and point of usage.

Raid 0 is stripe volume that offers a lot performance and no redundancy of files when used as an array. Raid 1 uses full mirror of the primary storage to a secondary or slave drive. Raid 1 is one of the most convenient raid arrays good for data back up since the operation on the main drive is mirrored automatically on the slave drive once configured. Raid 5 is the same stripe volume, just like in raid 0, but it uses up parity unlike in raid 0. Raid 5 is commonly used in multiple storage devices.

Raid arrays should always be maintained and observed for signs of damage and corruption, in order to save you the headache of contemplating for the possible ways of raid data recovery. Once there are signs of raid array degrading, check immediately if bad sectors can still be recovered to correct the problem. If bad sectors are unrecoverable, rendering the drive defective, it is best to seek help from technical experts on data recovery raid. Large companies are known to employ computer technicians or seek out help from outsourcing IT companies just for the sake of fixing and recovering what is left from raid arrays when experiencing failures. Also there is available reliable data recovery software that can be used to effectively recover data from raid arrays. Just make sure to check if the software is trusted for its efficacy. Bear in mind that one should always be ready with multiple backups or external storage devices if worse comes to worst.