Malfunctioning Nodes in HP P4000 & HP P4500 Storage Servers

Here at Easy Data Recovery we have developed an innovative way of recovering data from the malfunctioning or failed nodes that go to make up HP P4000 and P4500 storage servers as originally produced and distributed by Hewlett Packard.

Setting up these ‘nodes’ requires that the system itself is attached to something along the lines of the HP StoreVirtual Centralized Control Management Console which allows for the multiple ‘nodes’ to run in tandem with each other and also manages how the information is accessed and stored across a network that will invariably include an ‘application server’ from which all of your network-based programs operate.

At Easy Data Recovery our engineers have designed and implemented an series of bespoke methods by which it is possible to recover the data from these ‘nodes’ after they have failed. This is in contradiction to Hewlett Packard as a manufacturer who said that this is not possible. Our engineers can attest to the fact that it is and have been asked to reconstitute large volumes of data from said ‘nodes’ by customers just like you who are dependent on the information contained on them to keep your business running smoothly.

The ‘nodes’ in question are normally made up of a set number of hard drives which themselves are of a set volume. With the HP P4000 the original volume of the hard drives in a ‘node’ was 300GB (this was back in 2008 we might add) and since then HP have increased the size to 450GB although only 300GB is accessible. The failure of drives within a ‘node’ can lead to the ‘node’ itself ultimately becoming unstable or unrecognisable by the HP StoreVirtual Centralized Control Management Console and therefore no longer accessible.  Potentially this means that large volumes of data are lost if, as HP said, they were unrecoverable after the ‘node’ had failed.

Using forensic measures and a process based on reverse engineering our engineers can restore the data from said drives to a new medium with a high rate of success and in doing so can not only save you time but money. The replacement of a SAN such as the HP P4000 or P4500 (which are now both discontinued) can be a costly exercise in both financial and information terms. Many man-hours can be lost in the pursuit of recovering such data by calling upon out of date resources such as hard copy and old back-ups.

Using our data recovery method Easy Data Recovery engineers can recover the data to a new media until such times as you purchase a new SAN or recover it to a new ‘node’ in an existing SAN if that is applicable.

To find out more about how Easy Data Recovery’s engineers can help retrieve your data from a malfunctioning or failed ‘node’ contact us today on 01 6859007 and a member of our engineering team will discuss the options available to you as well as giving you a run down on the services we offer which are tailored to suit both budget and timescale when it comes to recovery.

Rating how data loss affects a business can be more important than some realise

Many execs may not be familiar with data loss projections and how these will truly impact their day-to-day operations, but it is an important thing to consider. When these data loss problems have a direct result on timely delivery to customers or even timely delivery to the company’s warehouse, it can affect a company’s performance and productivity. Why has the supply chain grown into such a risk for many businesses who may struggle to make it from start-up to establish? Gone are the days when UK companies largely exported more finished goods than they imported. With a reliance on outsourced companies to make those same finished goods today or at least deliver the materials need, it can pose a challenge to UK companies who are fighting to more than balance their bottom-line cost with demand.

Disruptions can hurt a company and keep it from being productive or profitable among its competitors. In a 2010 IBM report on UK email downtime, hardware failures, lost connections, and database corruption caused businesses to lose their ability to be profitable in the area of supply chain and demand.

Take time to locate the source that may cause a data loss Risk

Some companies may be concerned with only finding the greatest data loss risk, but  executives need to be aware about all key data loss risks equally.  Why be concerned about a factor that any cause data loss, but is not a main key factor for data loss?  Those factors that are not main key factors can be major headaches for companies that do not keep a close enough watch on business’s operations.

A Business Impact Analysis needs to be completed and  included in a data loss disaster recovery program because it is essential for helping a company’s IT professionals or execs determine their potential problems, probable costs, and what levels of protection are needed to  help the company operations continue smoothly. Does your company need maximum protection? Depending on the nature of the business, some companies may need heavy protection so that there are very few interruptions in their business operations. Other business execs may determine the company can operate with minimum protection needed.

Here are key factors to consider when developing a BIA:

• Time needed to recover data from a previous state
• Financial value of critical business processes
• Minimal number of staff needed to conduct business operations
• Dependencies on internal and external organisations
• Data requirements
• Technology needs to operate efficiently (minimum and maximum needs)

Knowing this information can help an executive and IT professional increase profitability and effectively develop a plan to avoid data losses that could cripple operations.  Unexpected data recovery costs may cost executives the ability to execute their plans well and rise above their competitors. 

Why newly acquired businesses can increase data loss risks for a UK Company

Did you know that for some UK companies, data loss may not be caused by hackers or viruses? It may simply be a sign of a company not understanding the best way to use the data give across their entire infrastructure. One insurance company grew and acquired several centres as a result. But, no one had any idea of the risks they faced because of their acquisitions. Why should a UK company know their risks when it comes to data?

It is hard to prevent data loss if you do not know how to best minimise the damages or worse, deal with the threats that may cause data loss. How can UK companies’ best calculate their risks and take steps to safeguard computers from fire damage, water damage, electrical outages, and accidental data loss caused by an IT professional imputing code incorrectly. One of the best ways is to calculate the likelihood that the event will happen in a numeric figure. Do you know what the impact would be for the company and calculate that figure? Once you know the likelihood and the impact, it is easy to calculate the risk factor by simply multiplying the likelihood and impact together.

Breaking down the Risk

If a UK company wants to do well in the business market, they must adjust to change and assure customers that their data really is safe in the company’s database. Is a risk minimal if looking into the risks divided by certain sectors? How much is a UK company boss able to trust computer analysis and charts made by human estimates?

No risk assessment is going to be 100 percent accurate. But, the trick is to best assess the likelihood of occurrences by predicting the probability. The goal is to use these four categories to narrow the error margin. High probability is for those risks that are the most likely to occur and you could prevent. For those threats that are low-risk and may require low maintenance, it is best to accept. Containing is for those risks which have the highest probability of happening and they aren’t much of a security threat. The last category may be the most important when it involves data loss and recovery efforts, planning. Without a clear plan, the smallest data breach can become a sizable threat. This is why even the largest companies need a data recovery loss plan and risk assessment not only for themselves, but whatever is acquired.

Some Raid solutions may seem unRaid-unlike, using Apple Mac data recovery Options

If you use Apple software and run a Raid 5 system using a Mac, solutions for formatting Raid arrays may not be the same for PC Raid array solutions. If you have a PC and it is running a Raid 5 array, Raid 5 recovery may be much simpler. Many PC systems may consider a Raid system to be offline if it is unable to be read. However, Mac computer may need different Apple Mac data recovery solutions because these systems running Raid 5 will still recognise the software. The Raid system only needs to still be plugged in. Using a Mac, Raid recognises a system as long as it is attached to a computer. This is what makes Apple Mac data recovery more of a challenge and may cause many business owners to need data recovery in Ireland from a professional who has special knowledge of Mac and Raid systems.

What is the best way to “fix” this type of Raid problem? Did you know that it may require shutting down a Raid system in this instance? The drivers on an Apple may not be able to read if there is a Raid system online if the computer is offline. Though it is true a trained professional who does data recovery in Ireland may be able to remove the drive, reboot, and reformat. This may not be the only option to solving Raid 5 problems before needing Raid 5 data recovery.

Erasing drives may solve Raid Apple recovery Problem

It may not seem like much of a Raid 5 recovery solution to purposely erase Raid drives, but it is one way to damage a Raid array so that it will go off-line. Once the drives that were part of the Raid array are wiped clean, they will no longer be recognised by a Mac and it will be easier to perform Apple Mac recovery on a computer running a Raid system.

Since every Raid system is different, it is best if business owners stop assuming this solution of Raid works every time data recovery is needed in Ireland. However, it is best to take it to a trained professional before attempting data recovery yourself. Though a specialist in data recovery in Ireland may not be able to use the same solution every time, they will also be able to keep from further harming sensitive data. Having a professional wipe the drives will keep from further damaging a Raid system and erase any previous problem a business pro had because a Raid system would not go off-line. 

Why USB flash drive users may need data Recovery

USB flash drives can have any uses other than using storing photos or files? Did you know that a USB flash drive can be used to add start menu for launching applications. Applications can be added to a USB flash drive and customised. This allows a user to start what programs or applications they want, stored safe on a flash drive. However, this is only one use for a drive that users may not realise.

Most people are not aware that you can create shortcuts of root folders of USB drives. Having a shortcut on a flash drive allows you to easily execute the application. However, USB drives only work best when data is not lost.

What can cause data loss and lead to the need for fast Recovery?

Some computer viruses can infect a USB flash drive? This is why you need a recovery specialist to clean the virus off a USB drive before they may be able to recover files off a flash drive.

Because viruses may be easily transferred from machine to machine, you may not know you have a virus before files are infected.

However, sometimes, the age of flash drives may simply be the reason a flash drive fails. After so many uses, drives can fail. A single flash drive can be used at least up to 500 times of reading and writing before it fails, as a general rule. But, the process of making USB flash drives for users is not even an imperfect process as even a small flaw in the design may hinder a user from being able to access important files?

Best way to protect data on USB flash Drives

Though it is always a good idea to turn to a data recovery specialist to recover data, data recovery is not fool proof. A USB flash drive is not all fool proof. USB flash drives can fail. The only way to truly prevent data loss 100 percent is to have a backup USB flash drive at all times.

If your backup drive is older, it may be best to transfer the data to a new USB flash drive. Even if they are unused, older flash drives can fail. However, this isn’t any reason why a USB flash drive shouldn’t stop be used for data recovery. It is a cheap way for computer users to keep sensitive safe and it can be formatted to protect data.

Why all is not lost when files are accidentally Deleted

It may be easy to accidently erase files off a hard disk drive. But, even files are deleted it does not mean all is lost. Did you know data recovery specialists can perform data recovery on those computer files that you thought you were lost? Professionals have computer programs that can identify files have been deleted. However, this may be helpful if you do not overwrite any files before dropping off a laptop hard drive or desktop computer hard disk drive for data loss recovery.

How do these professional computer programs find deleted files? Professionals who are familiar with Windows operating systems know that this type of computer operating system keeps track of files on a hard disk drive by reading “pointers.”  When you delete a file, it may delete the pointers. But, it doesn’t mean the files are really gone. Your computer may then consider those files as “free space,” in which it marks sectors.

Only with a solid state drive is data recovery not Possible

Did you know that only if you use solid state drive are files immediately erased? This is why amateurs must be careful when deleting files on a TRIM-enabled SSD.  You may not have to worry about files being duplicated and stolen. But, it also means that your files cannot be recovered.

Are you looking to add new files to a flash memory drive? Did you know that files on a flash memory drive must be deleted before new files can be written? This is why it may be good to ask a professional before you delete any files.

What can a data recovery expert do for You?

Why should you take your hard drive to a data recovery specialist, as soon as possible? The longer that you wait, there may be a possibility that Windows or another operating system will overwrite files on a hard disk drive.  Once overwritten, deleted files may not be recovered.  Having files recovered immediately is the only way to insure most of your important data is saved.

Use your hard drive as little as possible. The best way to recover data after you delete it is to power down your computer after you accidently delete a file. A professional has the expertise to take your hard drive and install it into another operating system. This can quickly help you recover your deleted files, as quickly as possible.

Why malware is growing along with the different types of Drives

There are many more drive types available than there have been in the past 15 years. As technology grows, driver types expand, and malware becomes a bigger threat to security and a greater need for data recovery is felt. Following record-breaking losses from hackers stealing sensitive data, businesses and consumers have a deeper understand of how critical it is to have a disaster recovery plan and be more proactive about the threat of data loss.

As the prices for SSD and flash drives continue to fall, these options may cost close to the price of a hard drive. With dozens of different manufacturers and different types of flash and SSD drives, customers today have cheap data storage options available. Some data recovery centres are seeing an increase of 10 percent of customers bringing in their USB flash drives for data recovery.  Given the sophistication of today’s scammers and hacking schemes, it makes sense there is a greater need for data security and data recovery. As new spinning drives components and new drive formats come on the market, data recovery teams may be facing a new type of malware attacks and viruses.

Why malware threats are growing and ultimately costing More

As cyber crime increases, the number of malware also rises. Thanks to a new Trojan horse dubbed “CryptoLocker,” computer users may be paying more to unlock their own data. This virus, discovered in 2013, focuses victims to pay a ransom to have their own computer data unlocked. While some victims have been able to get their data unlocked after the deadline, the amount of the ransom substantially increased. This begs the question whether viruses and malware are becoming more dangerous and expensive overall.

This also is opening new challenges for data recovery experts. They may need to learn new techniques to repair some drives that use more spinning disk components or are filled with helium. This is why trained professionals need to not only have a disaster data recovery plan, but also watch new technologies closely. The only way to stop new emerging threats, is to closely follow their development. Would data recovery specialist benefit from taking classes to learn new emerging threats? It would be a good idea, especially if a data recovery expert wants to build their reputation for recovering data.