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Data Recovery ArticlesTips for Successful Server Recoveries - Learn How to Prevent Further Damage When Company’s Server Goes Down
Despite the industry improvements in backup systems or storage array systems, server failures are a common occurrence that can leave a business paralyzed. Whether the failure is hardware-related, software-related, the result of human error or due to a natural disaster, the number of data loss events is increasing as businesses rely on their corporate server structure and document storage volumes. Ontrack Data Recovery, the undisputed leader in the industry with the most technologically advanced data recovery solutions available, understands this trend and offers several critical tips that can help get companies up and running quickly after their server goes down.
“With our nearly 20 years of experience, Ontrack’s engineers have seen many data loss situations ranging from ordinary to unique, and server recoveries are becoming more common than ever,” said Jim Reinert, director of Software and Services for Ontrack Data Recovery. “While the best way to avoid data loss is to have an established relationship with a data recovery company and include data recovery as a part of your overall backup and disaster planning, there are several measures a company can take to help increase chances for successful recovery.”
Since data disasters will happen, here is a list of suggestions for IT executives and administrators that will increase chances for successful recovery:
- Use a volume defragmenter regularly – a defragmenter moves the pieces of each file or folder to one location on the volume, so that each occupies a single, contiguous space on the disk drive. This helps improve the quality of recovery, making files and folders easier for data recovery specialists to locate. Do not run defragmenter utilities on suspected bad drives – if drives are bad, this could have damaging effects.
- Perform a valid backup before making hardware or software changes.
- If a drive is making unusual mechanical noises, turn it off immediately and get assistance from your data recovery company.
- Before removing drives, label the drives with their original position and RAID array.
- Never restore data to the server that has lost the data – always restore to a separate server or alternate location.
- In Microsoft Exchange or SQL failures, never try to repair the original Information Store or database files – make a copy and perform recovery operations on the copy.
- When replacing drives on RAID systems, never replace a failed drive with a drive that was part of a previous RAID system – always zero out the replacement drive before using.
- In a power loss situation with a RAID array, if the file system looks suspicious, is unmountable or the data is inaccessible after power is restored, do not run volume repair utilities. Do not run volume repair utilities on suspected bad drive
From legacy systems, desktops and servers to the latest high-end network storage, Ontrack Data Recovery has experience with all types of systems. When a server goes down, it is smart to consider multiple recovery efforts at the same time. The key to success is to get Ontrack involved as soon as possible.
Ontrack Data Recovery™ is the largest, most experienced and technologically advanced provider of data recovery products and services worldwide. Ontrack is able to recover lost or corrupted data from all operating systems and types of storage devices through its do-it-yourself, remote and in-lab capabilities, using its hundreds of proprietary tools and techniques. Ontrack Data Recovery is a brand name of Kroll Ontrack Inc., which operates as the Technology Services Group of Kroll Inc. (NASDAQ: KROL).
