Problem Description Segmented volumes refer to volumes which have had their size increased by taking disk space from another area. This space is usually taken from another disk, resulting in the Volume existing in segments across different disks, and hence the name segmented volumes. Segmented volumes add flexibility and are particularly useful in cases of important volumes needing additional disk space. Segmented volumes, however, have data stretched across more than one disk and data recovery software needs additional capabilities to scan multiple disks at a time. This is where the problem lies and a separate data recovery module has to be incorporated into the software to ensure complete recovery. Technical Aspect of the Problem Segmenting refers to manipulating a Volume so as to increase its size. This redistribution of disk space creates a Volume which may occupy space spanned across more than one disk. This Volume is called a Segmented Volume since it exists in segments across one or more disks. A Volume may be spanned across as many as 32 disks. For Example: Say, a disk consists of 2 volumes, one of which is almost full up and needs additional space. Netware has a feature using which disk space, usually from a separate disk, can be added to an existing volume. Regular data recovery software usually scans one disk at a time, but segmented volumes may be spanned across multiple disks, which is what creates the difficulty in the recovery of segmented volumes. Phoenix Novells advanced software engine can recover data from segmented volumes. Technical Aspect of the Solution Phoenix Novell is a Windows based application and can only be installed on a Windows based hard disk. Therefore, the failed Novell based disk needs to be attached as a secondary to a Windows based disk with Phoenix installed in it. After the damaged disk is attached, Phoenix needs to be run from the working disk. The software scans the selected volume of the damaged secondary disk to search for lost or missing partitions and displays the list. The software has a special algorithm to determine whether the contents of a volume are spanned across multiple disks. If a segmented volume is detected, the entire volume (across multiple disks) is scanned and the result displayed in an easy to understand tree structure. Any number of files may then be recovered. Working of Phoenix Novell The damaged server disk needs to be connected as a secondary to a working Windows based disk with Phoenix Novell installed in it. The software is then run to start the recovery process. Clicking Select Netware Partition will display a list of hard disks with their respective volumes. Select the damaged volume on the server disk to start the scan process. The software then scans the selected volume (traveling across multiple disks if need be) and displays the entire list of found data. Any number of files can be selected for recovery, and clicking Recover Selected will restore the selected files. Alternatively, clicking Recover Deleted will recover all the files listed in the displayed list of files. If the recovery is not satisfactory or if some of the files are recovered improperly, clicking Tools -> Change Linking Mode -> Contiguous Mode will change the linking mode to Contiguous which is a much more comprehensive scan |
