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SAN data recovery in Bristol.

Storage pool offline, dead controllers, a lost LUN or a corrupt datastore? We recover Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp and every other SAN — Fibre Channel and iSCSI. We image every disk and rebuild the pool, the LUNs and the file system off the controllers, so dead hardware never means lost volumes.

Quoted per array
Most jobs — no fix, no fee
Fibre Channel · iSCSI
~ san_2026-001 — live RECOVERED
$ bdr diagnose /dev/san
 Array: Dell EMC Unity · 24 × 1.8 TB · RAID 5
 Status: POOL OFFLINE — 2 disks failed in pool
 Client: Hayes, M. · Fishponds BS16

$ bdr engineer-working
 Member disks: all 24 imaged read-only
 Storage pool: rebuilt off the array
 LUNs: remapped · volumes back

$ bdr verify
 ✓ datastores — 31 TB
 ✓ VMs — restored
 ✓ SAN recovered — data back
!

Don't let a failed SAN rebuild or re-initialise its pool.

If your SAN has dropped a pool offline, lost a controller or had a rebuild stall, stop — don't let it rebuild, re-initialise or re-sync the pool. A rebuild writes across the disks and can overwrite the very data we need, and re-creating a pool or LUN can wipe the mapping that locates it. Power the array down, label which disk came from which shelf and slot, and call us. The first attempt at recovery is always the safest.

// faults we recover from

SAN faults we fix.

From a pool offline to a corrupt datastore, these are the SAN failures we recover from most — pool, controller, LUN and host file system.

Storage pool or RAID group offlineToo many disks have failed in a pool or RAID group and the LUNs are offline. We image every disk and rebuild the pool from copies to bring the volumes back.PoolOfflineLUN lost, unmapped or deletedA LUN deleted, unmapped, trespassed or reformatted by mistake? The underlying blocks are usually still there — we rebuild the LUN from the pool and recover what was on it.LUNDeletedStorage controller failureA storage processor or controller has failed and the SAN won't present its volumes, even after failover. We recover the configuration, image the disks and rebuild the LUNs off the hardware.ControllerSPFailed rebuild or expansionA disk rebuild or pool expansion that has stalled or corrupted the array. Rebuilds and migrations are where SANs are most often lost — we stop, image everything and reconstruct it safely.RebuildHigh riskVMFS datastore or VM damageA VMware datastore on a SAN LUN that is corrupt, or virtual machines that won't power on? We rebuild the LUN, repair the VMFS and recover the VMDKs and their data.VMFSVMsPool metadata or thin-provision damageThe pool metadata or thin-provisioning map — the tables that locate your data — can corrupt after a power cut or a bad disk. We rebuild the mapping and reassemble the LUNs.MetadataThinFirmware or SAN OS update failedA firmware or array-OS update that bricked the controllers or lost the configuration? The disks still hold your data — we read them and rebuild the LUNs independent of the box.FirmwareUpdatePower loss or write-cache corruptionA data-centre power loss can take down shelves and controllers and lose un-flushed write cache, corrupting LUNs. We image every disk and rebuild the volumes to the last consistent state.PowerCacheDisks or shelves out of orderDisks moved between slots, or a disk shelf removed during a fault? We identify each disk's correct place in the pool and rebuild the array from there.OrderShelves
// sans we recover

Every array. Every LUN.

We recover every SAN — Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp, IBM and the rest — Fibre Channel and iSCSI, every RAID level and storage pool, from a small iSCSI array to a multi-shelf Fibre Channel SAN. The platform decides the method, not whether we can help.

Dell EMCHPENetAppIBMHitachiPure StorageFujitsuLenovoInfortrendPromiseHuaweiDataCoreFibre ChanneliSCSILUNVMFSStorage PoolRAID 5RAID 6RAID 10Thin ProvisionDedupDual ControllerSnapshot

Dell EMC (VNX, Unity, PowerStore, Compellent), HPE (3PAR, Nimble, MSA), NetApp (FAS, AFF, E-Series), IBM Storwize and FlashSystem, Hitachi VSP and Pure Storage · Fibre Channel and iSCSI · RAID 5, 6, 10 and pools · VMFS, NTFS, ReFS and clustered volumes · single and multi-shelf arrays.

// our recovery process

How we recover a SAN.

SAN recovery rebuilds your volumes without ever writing to the disks. We image every disk in the affected pool, reconstruct the array and the SAN's own mapping, then rebuild the LUN and the file system on it — VMFS, NTFS or a database — independent of the controllers.

01

Free diagnostic

Tell us the array — make and model, RAID layout, how many disks, what happened. We assess it and send a written quote. Note which disk came from which shelf and slot if you can.

02

Image every disk

We take a read-only image of every disk in the affected pool on specialist hardware, including failing ones, so all the work happens on copies and your originals are never touched.

03

Repair failed disks

Where a disk has failed mechanically or electronically, we repair it — swapping heads, rebuilding the board — enough to image it. Drive-level repairs need 50% of the fee upfront.

04

Rebuild the pool and LUNs

We reconstruct the RAID groups or storage pool, the thin-provisioning map and the LUN layout from the images — exactly as the SAN had it, off the controllers.

05

Recover the file system

We rebuild the file system on the LUN — VMFS, NTFS or ReFS — and extract your virtual machines, databases and files, pulling the most consistent copy of the data.

06

Verify

We check the recovered volumes, VMs and databases actually open and are complete before anything is returned to you.

07

Return your data

We return your data on new storage sized for the volumes, ready to put back into service.

// what we recover from

Every array. Your data back.

We recover every SAN — Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp and the rest — imaging every disk and rebuilding the pool, the LUNs and the file system off the controllers, so dead hardware never means lost volumes.

Every SAN
Dell EMC, HPE +
Read-only
disks never altered
Off the array
LUNs rebuilt
48 hr
Diagnostic turnaround
VMware
VMs & datastores
25 yrs
Recovering data
// get a custom quote

Get a custom quote

Tell us what happened and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.

Prefer to call? 0117 332 1137 · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm

// pricing

Clear, fixed pricing.

Clear pricing for SAN recovery, quoted per array — with a free diagnostic and a written quote before any work starts.

SAN data recovery
From £1,250 + VAT
From — quoted per array by the number of disks, RAID layout and what needs doing. Most jobs are no fix, no fee.
  • Free diagnostic and a written quote first
  • Priced per array — by disk count, RAID layout and configuration
  • Every disk imaged read-only — your originals are never written to
  • LUNs, VMware datastores, virtual machines and databases recovered
  • Your recovered data back on new storage, ready to redeploy
// recent recoveries

Failed SANs. Real recoveries.

A snapshot of recent SAN recoveries across offline pools, dead controllers, lost LUNs and datastore corruption. Names redacted, results verified.

// CASE 2026-039recovered
Dell EMC Unity · 24×1.8 TBRAID 5 poolPool offline

Dell EMC Unity where a storage pool dropped offline after two disks failed.

Two disks in the pool had failed. We imaged all twenty-four, rebuilt the pool and recovered every LUN.

// CASE 2026-033recovered
HPE 3PAR · 16×2 TBRAID 6Controller failure

HPE 3PAR that lost both controllers and stopped presenting its LUNs.

The controllers were dead but the disks were intact. We rebuilt the pool off the hardware and recovered the volumes.

// CASE 2026-027recovered
NetApp FAS · 12×4 TBRAID-DPLUN deleted

NetApp where a production LUN was deleted by mistake.

Little had overwritten the blocks. We rebuilt the aggregate and recovered the deleted LUN and its data.

// CASE 2026-020recovered
Dell EMC VNX · 15×600 GBRAID 5VMFS corrupt

VMware datastore on a VNX LUN that corrupted after a power cut.

The VMFS was damaged and the VMs offline. We rebuilt the LUN, repaired the VMFS and recovered the virtual machines.

// CASE 2026-013recovered
IBM Storwize · 20×900 GBRAID 10Failed rebuild

IBM Storwize array corrupted during a disk rebuild.

The rebuild had partly overwritten the pool. We imaged every disk and reconstructed the original layout to recover the LUNs.

// CASE 2026-006recovered
iSCSI SAN · 8×2 TBRAID 5Power loss

iSCSI SAN that corrupted after the data centre lost power.

Un-flushed write cache had damaged the volume. We rebuilt the pool to its last consistent state and recovered the data.

// client reviews

SANs recovered. Customers relieved.

Reviews from real Bristol and South West clients whose SAN storage we recovered.

★★★★★
Our Dell EMC storage pool dropped offline and took every server with it. They rebuilt the pool and recovered all our LUNs. I cannot recommend them enough.
M
Michael H.Fishponds, Bristol · March 2025
★★★★★
Our SAN lost both controllers and we thought all the company data was gone. They recovered every volume. Worth every penny and a relief to deal with.
S
Sarah J.Bath · November 2024
★★★★★
A VMware datastore on our SAN corrupted and all the virtual machines went down. They repaired it and recovered every VM. Fast, fair and completely honest.
D
David T.Keynsham · August 2023
★★★★★
Someone deleted a production LUN and two other firms said it was unrecoverable. These got it all back. Genuine experts.
P
Priya K.Clifton, Bristol · May 2022
★★★★★
Gave us a clear quote up front, no fix no fee, and kept us updated throughout. Recovered our NetApp aggregate after a rebuild failed. Brilliant service.
T
Tom W.Bristol · January 2021
★★★★★
A power cut corrupted our SAN and I feared the worst for our databases. They rebuilt the volumes and recovered them all. Honest, skilled and reassuring.
L
Linda M.Portishead · September 2019
// sending your device in

Two simple steps.

Send us your device for a free diagnostic, and tell us a little about what happened — an engineer will review it and confirm your exact quote in writing before any work begins.

1

Send us your device

Recovering your data starts with getting the device to us. Pack it safely, add your contact details, and send it over — after we run a free diagnostic, we’ll confirm your exact price in writing before any work begins.

How to pack it
  • Package the device into a small, sturdy box or padded envelope.
  • Leave out caddies, cables and power supplies — we won’t need them for the recovery.
  • Include your details inside the package: name, address, phone and email — on a slip of paper, or use our shipping form — then seal it up.
Post toBristol Data Recovery
Castlemead, Lower Castle Street
Bristol BS1 3AG
Shipping formPDF · print & include with your devicePDF ↓

Posting it in? We recommend a tracked, insured service. Prefer to drop it off? You’re welcome Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm — please still package the device as above.

2

Need more information?

If you need more information on our data recovery service, fill out the form with more detail about your issue and an engineer will review it and give you a custom quote.

An engineer reviews every enquiry personally — we usually reply within 30 minutes during the day. Prefer to call? 0117 332 1137.

Thanks — your message is in.

We’ll be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.

// frequently asked questions

SAN recovery, answered.

The questions we are asked most about recovering a SAN.

Usually, yes. A pool or RAID group goes offline when more disks fail than it can tolerate, but the data is usually still on the disks. We image every disk, rebuild the pool and the LUNs from the copies, and recover your volumes. Don't let the array rebuild or re-initialise the pool first.

Almost never. A dead storage processor or controller loses access to the data, not the data itself, which lives on the disks. We read the pool layout from the disks, image them and rebuild the LUNs independent of the controllers, so you don't need the original hardware working.

Usually, yes, if you act quickly. A deleted, unmapped or reformatted LUN normally leaves the underlying blocks in place until they're overwritten. We rebuild the pool and reconstruct the LUN to recover what was on it — so stop using the array and contact us.

Yes. SAN LUNs commonly hold VMware VMFS datastores, Hyper-V volumes and databases. Once we've rebuilt the LUN we repair the VMFS or NTFS file system and recover the VMDKs, virtual machines and their data, checking they open before returning them.

SAN recovery is priced per array, from £1,250 + VAT, depending on the number of disks, the RAID layout and what needs doing. Every job starts with a free diagnostic and a written quote, and most are no fix, no fee, so you know the cost before any work begins.

On most jobs, yes. For drive-level repairs we take a 50% deposit upfront and the rest is only due if we recover your data — so if we can't, you are not left with the full bill.

Every make — Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp, IBM, Hitachi, Pure Storage, Fujitsu, Lenovo and the rest, Fibre Channel and iSCSI, every RAID level and storage pool. The platform decides the method, not whether the data can be recovered.

No — usually just the disks from the affected pool or RAID group, plus any failed ones, labelled with their shelf and slot positions. SAN recovery works by reassembling the pool from all the disks together, so we need every member, but rarely the chassis or controllers.

Usually, yes. A failed rebuild or a migration that corrupted the pool is one of the most common SAN failures, because both write across the disks. We stop, image every disk read-only and reconstruct the original pool and LUNs from the copies.

Most SAN recoveries take 5 to 7 working days, depending on the number of disks, the RAID layout and whether any disks need drive-level repair first. The free diagnostic is normally finished within 48 hours, and urgent business cases can often be prioritised.

You can drop them off at our Bristol location Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, or post them to us fully insured. Send every disk from the affected pool, labelled with its shelf and slot, packed so they can't knock together, and include your name, company, address, phone number and email so we can book it in and quote before any work begins.

// san failed?

Pool offline, dead controllers or a lost LUN? We'll recover it.

Free diagnostic, pricing quoted per array, and no fix no fee on most jobs — every SAN recovered, Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp and the rest, off the controllers. Start your recovery today.

Call us — 0117 332 1137
Mon–Fri · 9am–5:30pm · No fix, no fee
Start a free diagnostic →