SAN stands for Storage Area Network, which is a high-speed network connecting servers to storage devices. RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, which is a process of combining several physical drives into a single logical unit for optimized performance. When one or more drives fail, the RAID controller or the system fails, resulting in data inaccessibility or failure, and then SAN RAID failure occurs. The loss of data can impact your business operations as well as the trust of the customers and valuable recollections. RAID crashes can be utterly stressful.
Common causes of RAID failure are:
- Power surge or outage –sudden power spike or loss can damage the drives or controllers, interrupt write processes, and corrupt RAID configurations.
- RAID controller failure – even if the drives are fine, the whole RAID structure becomes inaccessible if the RAID controller malfunctions. Signs could be: boot failures, incorrect disk sequence, unrecognizable array. The fault makes recovery more complex.
- Multiple disk failures – overheating, power issues, age and wear, as well as environmental issues, can cause multiple disks to fail simultaneously.
- Malware attacks – RAID systems could become the targets of ransomware and viruses.
- RAID rebuild failures – RAID begins a rebuild process when one disk fails. But during this rebuild, if another drive fails, the whole array can collapse. Causes behind rebuild failure are: unstable array state, faulty new drive, and incorrect rebuild order.
- Hard drive failures it is the most common reason for RAID failure. With the due course of time, hard drives break due to various issues such as manufacturing defects, electrical component failure, and mechanical issues like head crashes.
- Human error – various human errors could be: incorrect drive replacement, formatting the array, accidentally removing the wrong drive, or wrong RAID level selection during rebuild.
- Configuration corruption – array configuration can become corrupt because of conflicting updates, failed BIOS flashes, and firmware bugs.
- Natural disasters – physical damage can be caused by: floods, fire and earthquakes.
- Incorrect RAID configuration – configuration mismatches could be caused between RAID levels due to the mistakes made during migration or initial setup. For instance, mixing up the drive sequence.
Preventing RAID failure in future
Preventive measures to be followed for the protection of RAID are:
- Regularly checking the disk health
- Keeping detailed documentation of the RAID setup
- Implementing unnecessary power supplies as well as surge protection
- Scheduling periodic backups to the cloud storage
- Maintaining controlled temperature in the server rooms
How to safely recover data from RAID
Shut down the system immediately
- Identify the type of failure
- If accessible, back up the current state
- Look for professional RAID services
- Avoiding DIY fixes
Conclusion
iTechnology Australia is a top-notch computer service provider for businesses across the country. Just when we felt the need for genuine and effective computer support, our working group endeavoured to meet the need. Earlier, we just focused on hardware repair as well as maintenance. With the advancement of technology, we decided to expand our services and include software installation, optimization, and troubleshooting. We offer a vast range of services, which include virus removal, network setup, maintenance, data recovery, etc. For expert support to safeguard or recover your valuable data, reach out to iTechnology Australia.