missing data in storage subdirectory

[quacktastic]

Hello,

I am a home user, and I have been happily using NAS4free with a zfs raidz2 setup for 1-2 years. Sadly for me, just today I came across an issue. The 6 disks I am using are online and appear to have no errors (as of my last weekly email update), and I only have one storage pool (pool0). I was browsing a subdirectory from within pool0 and that entire subdirectory vanished. Other subdirectories with the same storage pool are fine, but the data in that one is just missing despite the total storage on the pool showing the same. I can perform a scrub, but I'm afraid to do anything that could potentially harm the rest of the pool without asking some of you experts what should be done. I am accessing the data from a Windows machine, but I have browsed the directory from within NAS4free and verified that the data is not showing up there either, so it does not appear to be a Windows issue. Should I perform a scrub? Should I restart the box? Is there something else obvious I should be doing? Should I run around shaking my hands in the air screaming?

I do have an old backup, but it's missing most of the data that is in this directory unfortunately. It wouldn't be the end of the world to lose it, but I would like to do my best to get it back.

Thank you for your time!

[crowi]

Is it possible you just deleted the data by mistake? Vanishing data from itself on an intact pool is somehow not possible.
Keep in mind that a RAID system is never ever a replacement for a good and frequent backup.

[raulfg3]

please consider to use snapshot to recover acidentally deleted files & folders.

[quacktastic]

Thank you for the reply,

I can't be 100% sure that it didn't get deleted by mistake, but I didn't do anything actively to delete it so I don't see how it could have happened (hand not on the keyboard, didn't click anything that could possibly have deleted). I've even been checking One of the things that has me beyond confused is the fact that the storage pool is showing as the correct size, yet the data is gone. I'm running a windirstat right now to see If I can account for all of the data in the pool (I've looked through most of the numerous subdirectories to see if it was somehow moved, but so far haven't been able to find it).

I do understand the importance of backup (now more than ever) and I don't have an old snapshot to recover, I just now set up auto-snapshots (yes yes, shutting the barn door after the horses are out...)

[quacktastic]

Thank you for your help, I found the missing subdir as it somehow was moved. I have everything restored properly, and I'm currently backing everything up. Some good has come of it, as I have enabled daily snapshots . Thank you again.