Data Recovery · LanCologne

How can a company recover data from a failed SAS hard drive in a Server?

SAS hard drives in the Servern and storage systems are usually configured in a RAID array. If a drive fails, the ability to recover data depends less on the individual drive than on the array itself: the controller metadata, drive order and rebuild status are the decisive factors.

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Technical background

SAS drives cannot be used with standard SATA interfaces. In storage systems, they are sometimes formatted with 520- or 528-byte sectors, in which the manufacturer stores checksum data. Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) use hardware-based encryption; without a key from the controller or key management system, they cannot be read.

What you should – and shouldn’t – do now

  • Do not swap discs between bays and do not delete any „Foreign Configuration“.
  • Back up the controller logs and configuration export.
  • Do not force a rebuild if there are several yellow-marked discs.

Here’s how we do it

  • Reading data from SAS hard drives using suitable adapters, taking into account non-standard sector sizes where necessary.
  • Analysis of controller metadata (e.g. DDF or manufacturer-specific).
  • Virtual reconstruction of the composite and extraction of the volumes.

Borders

  • SEDs cannot be decrypted without the corresponding keys.
  • Mechanical damage to Enterprise hard drives requires suitable replacement parts.

Possible results

Recovered volumes and data from the Server cluster.

How we carry out data recovery

Every data storage device is first diagnosed in our own laboratory in Cologne; the diagnosis is free of charge. You will then receive a written quote and can decide whether to accept it. If you decline, you can collect the data storage device from the laboratory by appointment – there are no postage costs involved – or we will post it back to you; in which case postage and packaging costs may apply. Data is recovered from copies, not from the original – using professional data recovery hardware such as the PC-3000. If a drive needs to be opened, this is carried out on a HEPA H14-filtered clean bench. We do not offer a guarantee of success prior to diagnosis, as this is simply not possible in a professional context. Your storage device and your data will remain confidential and will not be passed on to third parties.

1Enquiries and submission by post or in person at the laboratory by prior appointment
2Free diagnosis of the cause of the damage
3Written quotation – we will only proceed once you have approved it; if you decline, you may collect the item from the laboratory or we will return it to you (postage and packaging costs may apply)
4Recovery, data verification and confidential handover

Request a diagnosis   Find out more about the process, costs and confidentiality →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect an SAS hard drive to my PC?+
No, you’ll need a SAS controller for that. Furthermore, you shouldn’t alter the array by carrying out individual tests.
What do 520-byte sectors mean?+
Some storage systems also store check data for each sector. This must be taken into account during analysis.
Are the hard drives in my Server encrypted?+
This is shown in the controller configuration. For SED drives, the key management must be clarified.

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