Help recover my data please. Freaking out.

[3dmdlr]

is there a space between smartctl and the dash a ? tried it both ways get unrecognized option with space and:

[ code ]bash: smartctl-a/dev/ada0: No such file or directory[ /code ]

 

[3dmdlr]

obviously my tags are wrong man i suck at this

 

[3dmdlr]

smartctl-a/dev/ada0 and smartctl-a/dev/ada1 yields no such directory found. i apologize about the code tags haven't figured out how to make them work yet :(

 

[Bidule0hm]

Copy exactly this command: smartctl -a /dev/ada0

No spaces in the code tags, juste delete the underscores from my post.

 

[cyberjock]

I really think that this needs to be something with a paid recovery service. I've been watching this thread on and off today from the first post, and you are many hours in and still not really sure what is going on.

Unfortunately, for these kinds of things, paying less than 4-figures for recovery just doesn't happen. The sad part is that you could have probably built a whole second server and used it for backups for less money than the recovery is likely to cost. :(

 

[mjws00]

Noctris gave you good advice.

If you have another box, I'd seriously look at installing to it and import the pool. I'd also disconnect my data pool, install a test drive and get FREENAS running smoothly on the hardware. It looks like there is more going on with the gear or the install. So get a stable system and then worry about the pool. Mirrors are pretty safe, and you aren't crashing the kernel on import or anything scary yet. The box is just chucking errors, and there are lots of potential reasons for that.

If one drive or port is the issue. Disconnecting it (try both) may bring the system back online. Degraded is fine... we want access. Then you get the data off there.
Auto importing on a clean install, is also a good test. Just save your existing usb and use a fresh one so you can always go back.
Not too hard to move the pool to a fresh box and try an import either.

You may end up with bad news, but at this point the trick is just to work through it and not panic.

 

[3dmdlr]

cyberjock i will gladly pay 4 figures for a recovery. i am in no way trying to get buy free. this data is my entire career spanning back 15 YEARS. if i lose this stuff it could destroy my business. while i appreciate all the advise i am being given it is second nature to you guys but obviously i am feeling my way in the dark. point me in the direction of a service, i will pay.

mjws00
when you say import the pool what does that mean? do i make a new flash drive freenas boot to it? where does the moved pool originate from?

 

[Bidule0hm]

this data is my entire career spanning back 15 YEARS. if i lose this stuff it could destroy my business.

I don't get it, how you could not have a backup? I just don't understand that you don't have a backup of data this important. Plus it's not that many data, an external drive would be plenty enough to do a backup.

@mjws00 says that you should reinstall FreeNAS on a new USB stick (keep the old one, just in case...) and import the old pool on the new system (see the auto-import procedure in the manual, it's just a few clicks) ;)

 

[3dmdlr]

we have established i am stupid, no? il have 6 backups if i get thru this

 

[Bidule0hm]

Probably not stupid but careless maybe? At least now you know why to do a backup regularly and you'll not let this kind of thing happen again (because if you do then *that* would be stupid) :)

Anyway, definitely try a new install, I think it's the best thing to do. And please post the output of smartctl.

 

[3dmdlr]

do i reinstall the same version or a new version?

 

[anodos]

I really think that this needs to be something with a paid recovery service. I've been watching this thread on and off today from the first post, and you are many hours in and still not really sure what is going on.

Unfortunately, for these kinds of things, paying less than 4-figures for recovery just doesn't happen. The sad part is that you could have probably built a whole second server and used it for backups for less money than the recovery is likely to cost. :(

I really think that this needs to be something with a paid recovery service. I've been watching this thread on and off today from the first post, and you are many hours in and still not really sure what is going on.

Unfortunately, for these kinds of things, paying less than 4-figures for recovery just doesn't happen. The sad part is that you could have probably built a whole second server and used it for backups for less money than the recovery is likely to cost. :(

I'm with cyberjock on this one. You're not in a situation where you can put an IT hat on and practice data recovery. Pester him till he gives you some contacts. :)

The 'what-ifs' in life are the things that will eat you alive. It'll also be much easier to explain to the wife, because you'll have done everything you could have.

 

[Bidule0hm]

Same version if possible ;)

 

[mjws00]

I actually wouldn't be anywhere near panic mode yet. Or even worried about 4 figures. You really don't have any reason to believe your data is gone. The pool showed up, and didn't spew errors. You just have hardware, possibly a disk, that is misbehaving. Could even be a bad usb. The challenge here is the most basic of commands are not being executed well. So that gets a little scary. Get through the basics, if you can enlist a pro... cool. Maybe there is someone in your neck of the woods that could help.

For now. You need to get a stable platform. With a working test zpool preferably on the same version as your existing system. Then we can see if we can get the pool imported. Just one step at a time. Get hardware and stable OS working... verify it can push data... import the existing pool. 10 minutes tops ;)

iX can do one off support tickets. You may even get cyberjock. Then when he has validated what's up... you can call in the hardcore data recovery guys.

 

[mjws00]

Btw, you are in the best possible scenario for recovery. Two disks. Mirrored. They both have the potential of holding every single block. If the big guns get involved at least you have a shot. Just go slow I wouldn't even have my data hooked up at this point. Work on a test disk to minimize your exposure to error.

 

[3dmdlr]

I dloaded 8.3.0 image wrote via win32diskimager to a 16gb kingston data traveler 2.0. At this point do I take out the original freenas thumb drive and put the fresh install in? Boot to the fresh install thumb?
That 10 min you speak of might as well be 10 hrs because I just don't know what the hell I'm doing at this point. Add the fact that I am completely crushed with work right now, worst timing ever!
Where can I go to get a pro to help me? Via team viewer or goto meeting something of that nature, let them drive so to speak. As I previously mentioned I am willing to pay even for what you call the most basic of commands as they are proving to be overwhelming to me. Starting to wonder just how I pulled off the initial install to begin with lol

 

[mjws00]

Take out your existing USB. Disconnect your data drives. Then start a clean install and add a test disk. Or install to another box. Spinning your data at this point is a liability.

 

[mjws00]

10 minutes was an attempt at levity. It will be a process. But doesn't have to take forever. Seriously, if you are panicked just take a break and get your bearings.

Edit. Heh. Autocorrect princess

 

[3dmdlr]

i see so take the orig thumb and 2 hdd out of the equations. make a new bootable thumbdrive paired with a new hdd and create a completely new install of freenas on a differnt box. different thumby different hdd. once that is working then we try to import the old zpool? over the newly created stable zpool?

 

[mjws00]

Yeah. We need a strong fallback position until your gear is verified. So everything gets set aside so it can't get screwed up.