NAS using Linux OS - data recovery

[Flowerpot]

Hi, Anyone got any info on how to recover data from a NAS running (I think!) Linux EXT3 FS (might be EXT2FS). Had a load of films on a share on this NAS but, when I deleted the share it also deleted the folder these files were in - no warning of course!! I've tried looking for recovery software but none seem to work (they see the drive, will check it [for hours!!] but find nothing to recover. Any help gratefully accepted. Posted a couple of days ago on another tech site but no replies so would really appreciate any help!

[dandnsmith]

I don't know what you may have tried, but a couple of thoughts:

- do any of the ones you tried specifically mention NAS or ext2/3?
- have you tried to get the NAS HDD(s) directly accessible from a PC?

[Flowerpot]

Hi Derek, Thanks for replying. I've removed the HDD's from the NAS shell & connected them (firstly together & then individually) to my laptop via an external USB shell. As to the software I've tried; ALL of them say they can recover from NAS's using the EXT 2/3 file system - they speak with forked tongue!! The main issue seems to be getting anything to 'see' the deleted files. If I could find trial software that can do this I'd happily pay for it to recover the files but none seem to be able to identify any files.

[dandnsmith]

Have you looked at this - I've used some of their software to good effect, and they offer a free trial.

[Flowerpot]

I tried this but it didn't seem to want to find anything!! Mind you the blurb for it does say "Windows" file structures not Linux (although Linux is more common on NAS than Windows).

[dandnsmith]

I suggested that because I read down, and saw that it supported the ext2/3 FS

[nvingo]

Originally Posted by Flowerpot

...I've removed the HDD's from the NAS shell & connected them (firstly together & then individually) to my laptop via an external USB shell...

Just a thought... was the NAS box configured to use multiple HDDs in a RAID ? Would throw a spanner in the works..

[nibblitz]

The way I did it when my NAS box went fubar was to install Ubuntu on an old PC, then install the drives from the NAS into the PC running ubuntu. It was then a case of using the linux mdadm tool to get Ubuntu to mount the exhisting raid.. Its all done via console window, so not plainly simple, but once mounted I was able to read and extract all the data just fine.. Its too long winded to type a tutorial here, and I'll probably not be clear enough and cause you to make a mistake.. But have a google for tutorials or forum discussions regarding this "mdadm nas raid recovery" theres quite a lot of info out there.
Hope this has helped.

[Flowerpot]

Originally Posted by nibblitz

The way I did it when my NAS box went fubar was to install Ubuntu on an old PC, then install the drives from the NAS into the PC running ubuntu. It was then a case of using the linux mdadm tool to get Ubuntu to mount the exhisting raid.. Its all done via console window, so not plainly simple, but once mounted I was able to read and extract all the data just fine.. Its too long winded to type a tutorial here, and I'll probably not be clear enough and cause you to make a mistake.. But have a google for tutorials or forum discussions regarding this "mdadm nas raid recovery" theres quite a lot of info out there.
Hope this has helped.

Cheers for this & I'm old hat PC (DOS 2!!) so it makes perfect sense thanks. I was beginning to think this way myself & will now try it. As I said the data's not as important as trying to find a method of recovery in case of future panics!!

[Flowerpot]

Originally Posted by dandnsmith

I suggested that because I read down, and saw that it supported the ext2/3 FS

Yeah I read that too but it must only do so on the purchased version cos it doesn't see Linux FS on the trial. I do appreciate your input very much though so thanks for advice.