Enterprise Server Data Recovery
Dell PERC H730 Data RecoveryDell PowerEdge R730 / Dell PowerEdge R730xd / Dell PowerEdge R630
Dell PERC H730 data recovery at Rossmann Group in Austin, Texas. This Dell hardware raid controller supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 across up to 32 drives via SAS/SATA. Commonly found in Dell PowerEdge R730, Dell PowerEdge R730xd, Dell PowerEdge R630. Per-drive imaging costs $600 to $1,500 depending on drive condition, plus a $400 to $800 array reconstruction fee. The most common failure we handle is foreign configuration detected. All work is backed by our no-data-no-fee guarantee; you pay nothing if we cannot recover your files.
Dell PERC H730 Specifications
The Dell PERC H730 uses a rebranded LSI SAS3108 ROC with 2GB DDR3 cache. It stores RAID metadata in DDF (Disk Data Format) on reserved sectors at the end of each member drive, plus a copy in controller NVRAM. Default stripe size is 64KB with left-symmetric parity rotation. PC-3000 RAID Edition reads the DDF superblock directly from the drive images to reconstruct the array without needing the original controller.
- Manufacturer
- Dell
- Controller Type
- Hardware RAID
- Interface
- SAS/SATA
- RAID Levels
- 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
- Max Drives
- 32
- Cache
- 2GB DDR3
- Battery-Backed Cache
- Yes
Recovery Tool Support
PC-3000 RAID Edition reads the DDF superblock directly from the drive images to reconstruct the array without needing the original controller. Default stripe size is 64KB with left-symmetric parity rotation.
Compatible Server Lines
The Dell PERC H730 is found in the following server platforms. If your server uses this controller and the array has failed, we can reconstruct the RAID offline from individual drive images.
Failure Modes
RAID controller failures differ from individual drive failures. The controller metadata, stripe maps, and parity calculations must all be intact for the array to function. Below are the failure modes specific to the Dell PERC H730.
Foreign Configuration Detected
Occurs when drives are moved between PERC controllers or the controller is replaced. PERC writes its own DDF metadata; swapping controllers causes the new PERC to flag drives as foreign because the controller serial number in the metadata does not match.
Symptoms you may notice
- BIOS/UEFI shows 'Foreign Configuration Detected' during POST
- Server will not boot to OS
- Amber blinking on drive activity LEDs
Related search terms
Virtual Disk Degraded / Failed
One or more drives dropped from the array. PERC marks the virtual disk as degraded (single drive loss in RAID 5/6) or failed (beyond redundancy). Automatic rebuild attempts fail if the remaining drives have bad sectors that the controller cannot remap.
Symptoms you may notice
- OMSA or iDRAC alerts showing virtual disk degraded or failed
- OS reports I/O errors on the logical volume
- Server performance drops as PERC retries reads on failing sectors
Related search terms
How We Recover Dell PERC H730 Arrays
Step 1: Individual Drive Imaging
Every drive from the array is imaged independently using the PC-3000 and DeepSpar Disk Imager. Drives with head failures or firmware corruption are repaired first. Each drive is imaged sector-by-sector to a clean target before any reconstruction begins.
For SAS/SATA drives, we use the appropriate interface hardware. SAS drives require dedicated SAS HBAs; SATA drives connect directly. This preserves every readable sector without relying on the original Dell PERC H730 controller.
Step 2: Array Reconstruction
We use PC-3000 RAID Edition to reverse-engineer the Dell PERC H730's metadata structure: stripe size, drive order, parity rotation, and offset values. The array is reconstructed from the drive images without needing the original controller hardware.
Once the virtual array is assembled, we extract the file system (NTFS, ext4, XFS, VMFS, ZFS, or other) and verify file integrity before delivering the recovered data.
Battery-Backed Cache
The Dell PERC H730 includes a battery-backed or flash-backed write cache (2GB DDR3). If the server lost power during a write operation, pending writes are preserved in the cache. On restart with a healthy controller, the firmware automatically flushes this cached data to disk; no manual intervention is needed. If the controller itself has failed, recovering cached data requires an identical replacement controller (same model, firmware revision) to which the cache module can be transferred.
Pricing
Recovery pricing for Dell PERC H730 arrays has two components: per-drive imaging and array reconstruction. Drive imaging costs $600–$900 to $1,500 per drive depending on condition (firmware repair vs. head swap). Array reconstruction adds $400 to $800 depending on the number of drives and RAID level complexity.
See our full pricing breakdown for details. Our No Data, No Fee guarantee means you pay nothing if we cannot recover your files.
Data Recovery Standards & Verification
Our Austin lab operates on a transparency-first model. We use industry-standard recovery tools, including PC-3000 and DeepSpar, combined with strict environmental controls to make sure your hard drive is handled safely and properly. This approach allows us to serve clients nationwide with consistent technical standards.
Open-drive work is performed in a ULPA-filtered laminar-flow bench, validated to 0.02 µm particle count, verified using TSI P-Trak instrumentation.
Transparent History
Serving clients nationwide via mail-in service since 2008. Our lead engineer holds PC-3000 and HEX Akademia certifications for hard drive firmware repair and mechanical recovery.
Media Coverage
Our repair work has been covered by The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider, with CBC News reporting on our pricing transparency. Louis Rossmann has testified in Right to Repair hearings in multiple states and founded the Repair Preservation Group.
Aligned Incentives
Our "No Data, No Charge" policy means we assume the risk of the recovery attempt, not the client.
Technical Oversight
Louis Rossmann
Louis Rossmann's well trained staff review our lab protocols to ensure technical accuracy and honest service. Since 2008, his focus has been on clear technical communication and accurate diagnostics rather than sales-driven explanations.
We believe in proving standards rather than just stating them. We use TSI P-Trak instrumentation to verify that clean-air benchmarks are met before any drive is opened.
See our clean bench validation data and particle test videoFrequently Asked Questions
My PERC H730 shows 'Foreign Configuration Detected' after a controller swap. Can you recover the data?
What stripe size does the PERC H730 use by default?
Can you recover a PERC H730 RAID 5 array where rebuild failed partway through?
How much does PERC H730 RAID recovery cost?
Other Dell RAID Controllers
We also recover arrays built on these Dell controllers.
Need help with a different setup? We also recover NAS arrays, standalone RAID, and enterprise SSDs.
Server Recovery Overview →Other Recovery Services
Nationwide Mail-In Data Recovery Service
We serve all 50 states with secure mail-in data recovery. Ship your failed drive to our Austin lab using our free shipping kit, and we'll diagnose it within 24-48 hours. No geographic limitations—we've successfully recovered data for customers from Alaska to Florida.
Popular Service Areas
Dell PERC H730 array down?
Ship the drives to our Austin lab for a free evaluation. No data, no charge.