RAID 6 with unknown configuration

Atola TaskForce 2 lets you automatically detect all parameters of a RAID 6 array, preview its contents, and then create its full physical image or perform logical imaging of only selected partitions, folders, and files.

To reassemble and image a RAID 6 array with an unknown configuration, do the following:

  1. On the left in the TaskForce main window, click RAID.
    2. Initiating work with RAID.

    Initiating work with RAID.

  2. On the Select source device panel, select the devices that make up a RAID array. They can be physical drives of all supported types, connected to the TaskForce 2 hardware unit, image files (raw, E01 or AFF4 image files), or a combination of both.
    3. Selecting RAID members.

    Selecting RAID members.

  3. Once all the RAID members are selected, click Continue.
  4. TaskForce 2 redirects you to the RAID configuration screen and immediately starts the Autodetection module.
    5. The RAID configuration screen in Atola TaskForce 2.

    The RAID configuration screen in Atola TaskForce 2.

  5. Optional: If you know some of the RAID parameters, such as RAID type, Start LBA, Block size, and Block order, you can select them manually from the lists at the top of the RAID configuration section. To change the device order, drag the devices up or down, as needed.
    6. Lists with RAID parameters for manual selection.

    Lists with RAID parameters for manual selection.

  6. Optional: If you know that one or two RAID members are missing, choose RAID 6 from the RAID type list and then click the Add missing device button once or twice respectively. For details, see RAID 6 with two missing devices.
    7. Adding a missing device to a RAID.

    Adding a missing device to a RAID.

  7. Wait for a couple of minutes while the module is checking thousands of variants to find a possible RAID configuration. The Autodetection progress is displayed on the right side of the screen. To learn more about our heuristic RAID autodetection algorithm, see How autodetection of an unknown RAID works.
  8. Once TaskForce 2 has detected a possible configuration, click Apply. TaskForce 2 automatically changes the order of the devices, applies the detected RAID type and other parameters, and then parses and verifies the file system of an array.
    9. Applying a possible RAID configuration.

    Applying a possible RAID configuration.

  9. To make sure that the suggested RAID configuration is resulting in tangible data, check the Partitions section at the bottom left and preview the contents of a reassembled RAID, including partitions, folders, and files. To help you decide whether the applied configuration is valid or not, TaskForce 2 displays a small tag with the accuracy percentage next to the partition. In some cases, TaskForce will suggest alternative configurations, and you can try to improve the accuracy percentage by applying these alternative configurations.
    10. The preview of the RAID contents.

    The preview of the RAID contents.

  10. Click Go to image to acquire a full bit-by-bit copy of the array to E01, AFF4, or raw image. Or click Go to logical to copy only selected partitions, folders, or files to L01 or ZIP.
  11. After imaging is finished, TaskForce 2 automatically generates an Imaging completed report. It includes all the details of the source drives, the RAID configuration, the target, the partition, the timestamps and more.
    12. The Imaging completed report.

    The Imaging completed report.