[tlug] OT: IO Data storage unit RAID recovery?

[Ian Barwick <barwick@example.com>]

Hi

(Or maybe not so OT because the darned thing apparently
uses some form of Linux, but here goes...)

We have a 4-disk IO-Data HDL-GT series[1] "Terastation"-style
HDD unit in the office, which recently suffered a PSU failure.
I have procured a replacement PSU and the unit is working,
and all four disks appear to be fine. Howver it does not recognize
the first disk though I was able to attach it to a normal
PC running Linux which did recognise the disk and was able
to display its partition table (though not mount any partitions
of course).

[1] See http://www.iodata.jp/product/hdd/lanhdd/hdl-gt/

It seems the RAID 5 setup has been lost (it will only boot to
raid recovery mode) and it wants me to forcibly rebuild the
RAID, which would lose all the existing data if I am understanding
the manual correctly.

(In accordance with Murphy's Law someone has some data
on there which they absolutely need...)

Does anyone have any experience with recovering such a device
from this kind of situation, or know of anyone who specialises in
this kind of thing? Might putting the disks into another, similar unit
help? Would it be possible to attach the disks to a PC hardware
raid card?

(Note this is not just a case of replacing a defective disk, which
I have done before with this unit).

Many thanks for any tips


Ian Barwick