Pool off-line, controller down, LUN gone, datastore corrupted? Our SAN recovery service will recover all of them. We support Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp and every other SAN with both Fibre Channel and iSCSI. We create an exact replica of your entire SAN (pool + LUNs + file system) using a complete image of each disk. This way, regardless of how many controllers are “dead”, you’ll have access to all of your volumes again.
In the event that your SAN drops a pool offline, loses one of the controllers or the rebuild process stalls out, do not let it continue to rebuild, reinitialise or resync. Rebuilding the pool will write new data across all of the disks. So if we were going to find some data on those disks, rebuilding can simply write over it. Similarly, creating a new pool or LUN can delete any information that is currently mapped to locate that volume. Shut the array down. Label which disk comes from which shelf and slot. Call our team. The first attempt at recovery is always the safest approach.
These are the types of SAN failure that our recovery service deals with most often: pool, controller, LUN, host file system.
We recover every type of SAN (Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp, IBM, etc.) using both Fibre Channel and iSCSI protocols at every RAID level and storage pool size, from small iSCSI arrays to large multi-shelf Fibre Channel SANs. It does not matter what SAN you use, we will know the right way to recover it.
Dell EMC (VNX, Unity, PowerStore, Compellent), HPE (3PAR, Nimble, MSA), NetApp (FAS, AFF, E-Series), IBM Storwize and FlashSystem, Hitachi VSP and Pure Storage · Fibre Channel and iSCSI · RAID 5, 6, 10 and pools · VMFS, NTFS, ReFS and clustered volumes · single and multi-shelf arrays.
When recovering a SAN, we do so by rebuilding the volume without ever writing to the disks themselves. First, we image each disk in the failing pool; secondly we recreate the entire array including its own internal mappings; thirdly, we rebuild the LUNs and recreate the file systems on top of these LUNs (NTFS, VMFS, database, etc.), independent of the controllers.
Please tell us about the array: manufacturer/model, RAID configuration, number of disks and what occurred. We will review it, provide a price quote in writing, and ask which disk was located in each shelf/slot that you know.
We create a read-only image of every disk in the impacted storage pool using special equipment (failing disks included) so the work happens on copies and no original content is ever altered by our team.
When a physical/electronic failure occurs at the disk level, we perform repairs (swapping heads, rebuilding the board) such that we may image the disk. The cost of these types of repairs requires a 50% deposit upfront.
We then construct the RAID groups or the storage pool, thin provisioning mapping and LUN mapping based on the images we created (off the controllers), the same way the SAN controller originally configured them.
We rebuild the file system on the LUN (VMFS, NTFS or ReFS) and recover your virtual machines, databases and files. We will attempt to pull the best possible version of your data.
Before returning any of your recovered volumes, VMs, and databases to you, we test them to verify they open successfully and contain all expected contents.
Your data will be delivered to you via new storage that matches the volume sizes we restored your data to so you can plug them right back into production.
We have experience recovering all types of SAN arrays (Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp, etc.), taking an image of every single disk in the system and recreating the storage pool, LUNs and file systems from those images so dead hardware = no loss of volumes.
Tell us what happened and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.
We will be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
Pricing for SAN recovery services is always clear and is based on individual SAN array configurations; we’ll do a free diagnosis of your problem first and provide a detailed written quote prior to commencing any work.
A snapshot of recent SAN recovery jobs on offline storage pools, dead controllers, lost LUNs and corrupted datastores. Names have been removed for privacy purposes and we’ve confirmed the results.
There were two failing disks in this pool. All twenty-four disks were imaged; the pool was then rebuilt. Every LUN in the pool was restored from the images.
The two controllers on this array were dead but the disks were still usable. The array’s disks were used to rebuild a new pool without the existing hardware and all of the LUNs (volumes) on it were restored from the new pool.
Little data was written over the deleted blocks. The disk aggregate was rebuilt and the deleted LUN and its associated data were both recovered.
VMFS was damaged and the VMs were unresponsive. The LUN was rebuilt and the damaged VMFS file system was repaired which allowed us to bring back online the previously unavailable VMs.
During an attempted rebuild, some of the area where data resided in the original pool became partially overwritten. An image was made of each of the disks in the pool. With the original configuration of the pool recreated, the original LUNs could be restored from their images.
Some amount of dirty-write cache remained when the problem occurred, resulting in damage to one of the volumes. The pool was rebuilt to its most recently consistent state prior to failure and the data was successfully recovered.
All reviews posted on this website are based upon real customer responses; none have been created by us.
No invented reviews here — every testimonial we publish is genuine. Ask us to arrange a reference for a job like yours on 0117 332 1137.
Send us your device for a no-obligation free diagnostic and let us know what went wrong. One of our engineers will inspect it and confirm your exact quote in writing prior to doing any work.
To get started with recovering your data, first get your device to us. Wrap it securely, write your contact details on a slip of paper inside the package, include a brief description of what happened and post it to us. After running a complimentary diagnostic we will write to you confirming the exact price prior to starting work.
Do you want to post the device to us? We highly recommend using a trackable postal service with insurance. Would you prefer to deliver it yourself? That’s fine too. Our office hours for accepting deliveries are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. Please make sure to wrap the device as described previously.
Need some additional information regarding our data recovery services? Fill out the form and provide further detail about your problem and one of our engineers will review it and offer you a personalised quote.
We’ll be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
The most frequently asked questions regarding recovering a SAN by us.
Usually, yes. If a pool (or RAID group) experiences more drive failures than it can handle, the volume will typically go offline; however, the actual data is likely still intact on each of the drives. The process for recovery is to make an exact copy of all disks; then we use those images to rebuild the pool and the logical unit numbers (LUNs), resulting in restoring all of your volumes. Do not allow the array to rebuild or reinitialise the pool prior to our involvement.
Almost never. When a storage processor or controller dies, it simply loses the ability to access the data that is stored on the disks, rather than losing the data itself. Since we are able to pull down the configuration of the disk pool from the disks themselves, create an image of all the disks, and rebuild the LUNs without needing the original controller(s), there is no requirement for the original hardware to be functioning at all.
Generally, yes. However, you do need to respond rapidly. In most cases, deleting or unmapping a LUN, or reformatting one results in leaving the physical block locations intact until some other data overwrites them. Our procedure involves rebuilding the disk pool and recreating the LUN as close to its original form as possible. Therefore, please immediately cease using the array and get in touch with us.
Yes. SAN LUNs have many types of data which include VMware VMDK files, Hyper-V VHDX files, as well as database files. We first rebuild your SAN LUN, then restore your VMFS/NTFS file system to ensure all data is readable, then check that the virtual machine opens successfully prior to returning it.
SAN recovery costs are based upon an array by array basis from £1,250 + VAT depending on how many disks there are in the array, RAID configuration, etc. Each SAN recovery will start with a free diagnostic and also each one will provide a written quotation for work; with our SAN recovery service, in most cases you only pay if we recover your data, therefore you know exactly how much money you will pay prior to us starting any work.
Most often yes. However, when there is need for a drive-level repair, we require a 50% deposit prior to performing the repair work. And, you are only required to pay the remaining 50% after successful recovery of your data. This protects you in case we are unable to successfully recover your data.
All brands (Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp, IBM, Hitachi, Pure Storage, Fujitsu, Lenovo) as well as Fibre Channel and iSCSI systems and every possible RAID level and storage pooling methodology. Your SAN’s platform dictates how your SAN data will be recovered and not whether your data can be recovered.
No, mostly just the disks from the failed RAID group, plus any failed disks (labelled with their shelf and slot positions). SAN recovery will require all the disks (to recreate the complete pool), but very rarely requires anything else.
Yes, most likely. Failed rebuilds or migrations which have damaged data are probably one of the most common reasons why SANs fail. Both types of writes cross all the disks in a pool. To protect your data, we would immediately halt the failure process; create a read-only copy of each disk; then use those copies to re-create the original pool and LUNs.
On average, a typical SAN recovery takes about 5 to 7 working days based upon how many disks were involved, what type of RAID was used and if any individual drives needed to be repaired prior to rebuilding the pool. An estimated 48 hour timeframe is required to finish the initial free diagnostic. Urgent business cases can often be prioritised.
Please bring them into our office in Bristol, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. Alternatively you may also send by post: please insure the package and include every disk from the failed pool, labelled with your shelf and slot position. Please pack the disks carefully so that they cannot damage each other during shipping. Additionally, please include your name, company name, address, phone number and email address so we can schedule your service and provide a price quote prior to starting your SAN recovery.
Free diagnostic; pricing determined per array; in most cases you only pay if we recover your data; all SANs recovered off controllers (Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp etc.). Start your recovery today.