 Hello everybody! Watch this video to find out how to recover data from a RAID system with a full-to-LSI mega-RAID SAS 84016E controller. RAID arrays are an effective method to ensure safety and reliability of data storage which allows combining several hard disks into one logical volume and distributing data across them. The LSI mega-RAID SAS 84016E controller plays a crucial role in building a RAID system as well as in ensuring data integrity and availability. However, the controller may fail one day, just like any other device. Losing access to data on a disk array when the controller breaks down is a severe problem, especially when you store valuable or necessary files on that disk array. In this video, we will explore how to configure a RAID and how to restore data when the controller is out of order and how to rebuild a crashed RAID manually. For better understanding of how the RAID technology works, let's explore the process of creating it on a LSI mega-RAID SAS 84016E controller. Creating a RAID is the initial step to ensure data safety and improve system performance. This process will unite hard disks into a single logical volume which allows to spread the data across all drives and enhance the reliability of data storage. Building a RAID on this LSI mega-RAID device is implemented through the controller's bias. Press the key shortcut Ctrl H when the server is booting. When you do it, you will see the LSI bias window. Click Start here to continue. Then go to the Configuration wizard. In the wizard window, choose New Configuration and click Next. You will see a warning that the current configuration will be cleared and all data will be lost. Click Yes to continue. Now choose the RAID configuration method, Manual or Automatic and click Next. Choose the disks to include into the array and click on the Add button. Now the horror disks will be added to a virtual group. Click Accept DG to confirm it and then Next. Now add this group to span by selecting the option Add to Span and then click Next again. At the next stage, choose RAID Level, Strip Size, Read and Write Policy Settings, Cash Properties and other options. When all the settings are ready, set the volume size. On the right, you can see the full size for every RAID level. After that, click Accept and Next. Click Accept and Yes to save this configuration. Now click Yes one more time to initialize the drives. This will typically start fast initialization, but if you need to wipe the drives completely, select Slow Initialize and click Go. The RAID has been created. The last step to take is to restyle the computer. Further actions will include drive partitioning, access configuration and so on. If you lost access to the disk array because of controller breakdown, there are a few ways of retrieving your data. For starters, you need to make sure if there is a problem with the controller. As soon as you know that the controller is out of order, you can start the recovery operations. The first data recovery method to use, if the LSI MHz SES controller is dead, is to connect the disks to a properly working controller. For this method, you will need one more controller of the same model or a compatible one which enables you to import the previously existing RAID configuration. First of all, you should thoroughly examine this aspect to make sure that the data recovery operation is not going to damage your data. Reconnections may result in losing the remaining files forever. Visit our channel for a detailed video tutorial about transferring hard disks to a new controller. Find the link in the description below. The second method to recover data involves specialized data recovery software which can work with RAID systems. Hetman RAID Recovery supports all popular RAID types, most file systems and various array patterns used by various RAID controllers. It will rebuild the damaged RAID with the available hard disks, so that you will be able to retrieve important files. For data recovery, you need to connect all the hard disks to the motherboard of a Windows computer. As you can see, the program has revealed the crashed array automatically. Depending on the RAID level, it can also rebuild the RAID system even if one or several disks are missing. 485 is one disk and 486 is two disks. If your motherboard has less setup or is a power connector than necessary, you can use additional adapters and extension cards like the ones shown on the screen. Find the RAID in the Drive Manager and check if the program managed to rebuild it correctly. It shows brief information about its properties. To get more detailed information, right-click on the array and open its properties. In the RAID tab, you can view all information about the array, including the hard disks to their order, offset and so on. If everything is correct, right-click on the volume and choose Open. After that, select the scan type – File Scan or Full Analysis. If the controller has just broken down, a File Scan is enough and it takes less time. If the program can't find the missing files after the File Scan, then go for Full Analysis. Go back to the main window, right-click on the volume and choose Analyze again, Full Analysis, specify the file system and click Next. In my case, the program has coped with the task easily. As you can see, it has revealed the RAID automatically and it found all the files which were stored on this disk array. In addition, the program has also shown the deleted files which are marked with the right cross. Select all the items you want to recover and hit the Recovery button. Specify a way to save the data. Choose the Disk and Folder. Click Recover again. When the recovery process is complete, you will see all the files in the Choosing directory. In some situations, the program may fail to rebuild the RAID automatically. It can happen when the service information on the disk is erased, so the program cannot identify parameters of the crashed RAID. In such cases, the RAID constructor with a manual build feature will help you. This tool will save the day when the disk beginning is erased, together with the information about the array parameters. This is what typically happens when disks are connected to another controller and the previous configuration is erased or when the RAID is rebuilt. If you know the array parameters, start the constructor, choose Manual Mode, Next. Apply the array type, block order and size. Add the disks that you used to include and replace the missing disks with empty drives by clicking the plus button. You may have to specify the offset, which tells you where the beginning of the disk is located. After that, give the disk order. When you have entered all the parameters you know, you will see a RAID and if this information is correct, you will see its folders here. Fill in all properties and click Add. After that, the RAID system will appear in the Drive Manager. Now, start the scan. Search for files and recover the ones you need. As you have already understood, data recovery from a crashed RAID may become a challenging task, which depends primarily on how much it is damaged. The right choice of data recovery tools, combined with confidence, is the key to successful data recovery from a damaged RAID system on a faulty controller. It is well tested at reliable software like Hetman RAID Recovery, which is designed specifically for restoring data from RAID arrays. Also, remember to follow instructions and recommendations when using this tool to minimize the risk of data loss. And that is all for now. I hope this video was useful and it helped you to recover lost files. 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