How to Recover Files From RAID 6 After a Controller Issue or Disk Failure
Tags: beginners, testing, test, tutorial
Published: 2021-09-06 04:22:50

Alas, this terrible thing has happened… and your new RAID 6 no longer shows any signs of life. What to do? Who to call? What’s wrong? How to recover all that data? In our article, you will find all the answers to your questions.

![Recover Files From RAID 6](http://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/how-to-recover-files-from-raid-6-after-controller-failure-or-disk-failure.png)

##Introduction
RAID systems are among the most reliable and best-performing storage solutions, but even they are not immune to damage and failures. The whole system stops working when one of the physical storage devices breaks down, when the file structure suffers from failures, or when the controller no longer works properly. Even a disk array based on the most expensive hardware can fail or break down – it’s only a matter of time. That is why it is always a good idea to back up all mission-critical files from time to time – unless you want to be forced to use the big guns, that is, specialized data recovery software.

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RAID 6 is the redundant array of independent disks which features a high degree of tolerance against loss of information. This configuration type requires at least four disks and it uses striping with dual parity. For building the array, we’ll be using SAS RAID controller Adaptec 6805T and six hard disks, and all the tests will be conducted with this hardware configuration.

There are two ways to build the storage system: with the help of BIOS or with the specialized software supplied by the controller vendor, and we’ll explore both.

##How to build a RAID 6 with the help of BIOS
Boot the computer as always, and press the key shortcut Ctrl+A to access BIOS.

![How to build a RAID 6 with the help of BIOS](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6.png)

Go to Array Configuration Utility.

![Array Configuration Utility](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-02.png)

The next step is initialization; do it by jumping to the line Initialize Drives, press Enter.

![Initialize Drives](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-03.png)

Use the Space or Insert key to select the drives which would make up your storage system, and press Enter to confirm the action.

![select the drives](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-04.png)

The system reacts with the warning that all drives to be initialized will be erased. Enter Yes, the operation will be confirmed.

![warning](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-05.png)

Wait until the process is over, and then start building the array. Select the line Create Array.

![Create Array](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-06.png)

Select the drives you need to combine into a storage system, and press Enter.

![storage system](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-07.png)

In the new window, specify the following: name, type, block size, capacity, and some extra properties.

![specify properties](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-08.png)

An important note: These details must be memorized or written down, because you’ll need them when you start recovering the array data. When proper values are selected, press Enter to confirm.

##Build a RAID with the help of Adaptec Storage Manager
We’ll be using specialized software – Adaptec Storage Manager, which can be downloaded from the official website of the adapter’s vendor. Go to the website, select the necessary version depending on the type of your operating system, download and install it.

![Adaptec Storage Manager](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-09.png)

Start the utility, and click on the computer’s name in the main window of the program.

![Start the utility](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-10.png)

Enter the registration data and password to your account.

![Enter the registration data](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-11.png)

Now your controller should appear in this window.

![controller](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-12.png)

Click on its icon to see the list of connected drives.

![connected drives](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-13.png)

To build an array, click Create.

![click Create](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-14.png)

In the next window, choose between Express or Custom configuration options.

![Express or Custom configuration](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-15.png)

The first mode is automatic, and the utility will offer you the most suitable array type for your set of disks.

![utility](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-16.png)

In the second mode, you can select the configuration manually. In our case, we select the Custom option.

In the next window, select the array type. If you don’t see the one you need on this list, click Advanced Settings to find more options.

![Advanced Settings](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-17.png)

Select the RAID type you want -in our case, it’s RAID 6 – then click Next.

![Select the RAID type](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-18.png)

In the next window, fill in the field Name.

![fill in the field Name](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-19.png)

Click Next, type in\modify other properties, or leave them at their default values.

![type in\modify other properties](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-20.png)

All the properties should be written down or memorized, because you will need them when the time for data recovery comes.

After that, select all drives to be included into this RAID, and click Next.

![select all drives](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-21.png)

Click Apply to save the configuration, and then Yes.

![Click Apply](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-22.png)

The untility will start building the array immediately.

![start building the array](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-23.png)

This is the stage that suggests waiting – it could be for twenty minutes, or even for several hours.

![stage ](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-24.png)

Now it can be used – as soon as you take the last step in Disk Management.

This utility can also be used to look up array properties and status, remove it or rebuild it, if necessary.

![array properties](https://www.hetmanrecovery.com/pic/blog/a225/raid-6-25.png)

##How to replace a hard disk in RAID 6
The technology used in RAID 6 is designed with improved fault tolerance in mind. It is built in such a way that it can work properly even if one or several physical disks are out of order. So after one or two physical storage devices break down, this RAID type will remain operable. While the computer is booting, you will see a system warning that says “Following Arrays have Missing or Rebuilding or Failed Members and are degraded” and the name.