RAID Volume Metadata: Unknown volume: array metadata or file-system header?
Pattern to record: The controller detects members but the expected logical volume or file system is missing.
Identify the storage layer
RAID metadata describes member order and array layout; it is separate from the file system inside the assembled volume. Record the controller, RAID level and physical drive order before import, rebuild or file-system repair. Controller metadata and a file-system header describe different layers and require different recovery methods.
Protect data before repair
Do not initialise, reorder or rebuild uncertain members automatically. Initialising a foreign array can overwrite the metadata needed to identify its layout.
Evidence to check on the protected copy
- Record drive order and controller details and image unstable members before importing anything.
- Record each member and controller state and determine which layer first fails to appear.
Recovery and verification
If the checks support this cause, reconstruct the documented array or recover its file-system header only when supported by the preserved evidence. Verification should cover array assembly, share access, redundancy state, restart and independent backup.
For an assessment of your RAID or NAS system, contact AEPC in Burswood or call 027 908 8880. Provide the model and the conditions that reproduce this problem. Workshop visits are by appointment.