Accidently initialize vitrtual logical drive poweredge 2850

Hello,

 

 

 

Recovery Options:

 

 

 

Here are the possible ways forward, from least likely/most risky DIY to most reliable professional help:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 * Try reconfiguration (high risk - generally NOT recommended after init):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Some RAID controllers have an option to "import foreign configuration" or recreate a VD without initializing it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * You could try going back to the RAID configuration utility (often Ctrl+M or Ctrl+R during boot for PERC controllers) and see if there's an option to detect or rebuild the array without initializing it.

 

 

 

 

 * WARNING: If you attempt to rebuild the array manually, you MUST know the exact original configuration: RAID level (0, 1, or 5?), drive order, and stripe size. Guessing incorrectly and proceeding will cause further data corruption and likely make recovery impossible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Probability: Very low after an explicit initialization command has already been executed. The original metadata defining the array is likely gone or corrupt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 * Software-based RAID recovery (requires technical expertise):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Remove the labeled drives from the PowerEdge 2850.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Connect all three drives simultaneously to another working computer, such as a desktop workstation. You may need SATA ports or adapters (these drives are likely SCSI or SAS depending on the specific 2850 backplane/controller - you'll need a compatible HBA or controller in the workstation that is not configured for RAID itself). Do not let the workstation operating system initialize or format the drives.

 

 

  * Use specialized RAID data recovery software. Examples include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     * ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery (can help determine parameters) * UFS Explorer RAID Recovery * R-Studio * GetDataBack * TestDisk (primarily for partition recovery, but can help identify file systems if the RAID structure can be determined) * These tools attempt to analyze the drives, determine the RAID parameters (level, order, stripe size, start offset), and virtually reconstruct the array to allow you to copy data.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Challenge: You still need to know or correctly guess the original RAID parameters. Success depends heavily on how much data was overwritten by the initialization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Likelihood: Moderate to low, depending on RAID level and initialization type. Requires patience and technical knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 * Professional data recovery service (safest, most expensive):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * This is the recommended option if the data is critical and you're not comfortable with advanced DIY methods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Contact a reputable data recovery company that specializes in RAID arrays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Provide them with the labeled drives and tell them exactly what happened (server model, controller, accidental initialization).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * They have specialized tools, expertise, and clean rooms (if needed, though unlikely here) to attempt reconstruction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   * Probability: Highest chance of success, but comes at a significant cost, and even they cannot guarantee recovery if the damage is too severe (e.g., full initialization or RAID 0).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key information needed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most important piece of information to remember is the original RAID level (0, 1, or 5?). This will drastically affect your recovery strategy and chances.

 

 

   

In Summary:

 

Yes, there is a chance of recovery, especially if it was RAID 5 or RAID 1 and only a quick initialization occurred. However, it's a difficult process. Stop using the drives immediately. Your best options are attempting software recovery yourself (if you have the technical skills and accept the risk) or engaging a professional data recovery service (safest but costly). Do not try random things in t

 

he RAID BIOS, as you risk making things worse.