Deleting files from an ext4 file system doesn't necessarily mean permanent loss. In CentOS 7, there are several tools available that enable the recovery of deleted files, although it's crucial to act swiftly to prevent data overwriting. This article delves into the process of recovering deleted files on an ext4 file system using specially developed tools.

Prerequisites

• Installed and running CentOS 7
• Access to root user or a user with sudo privileges
• ext4 file system

Step 1: Halt Disk Write Operations

Before commencing the recovery process, it's critically important to halt all write operations to the disk from which you intend to recover data. This includes stopping database services, web servers, and any other processes that might be writing to the disk. This minimizes the risk of overwriting deleted data.

Step 2: Installing the Recovery Tool

One of the most commonly used tools for file recovery on ext4 systems is extundelete. You can install extundelete using the following command:

sudo yum install extundelete

Step 3: Performing the Recovery

After installing extundelete, follow these steps for file recovery:

1. Unmount (or mount read-only) the partition from which you need to recover files. This can be done using the umount /dev/sdXn command, where sdXn is your partition identifier.

2. Run extundelete with the partition path and the action option you wish to perform. For restoring all deleted files, use:

   sudo extundelete /dev/sdXn --restore-all
   

3. The recovered files will be placed in the RECOVERED_FILES directory within your current working directory.

Step 4: Verification and Final Steps

After completing the recovery process, it's important to verify the recovered files and ensure their integrity. If files were not successfully recovered or if crucial data is missing, it may be advisable to try another recovery tool or seek professional services.

While recovering deleted files from an ext4 file system on CentOS 7 can be a challenging task, using the right tools and procedures can increase the likelihood of success. Acting quickly and halting all disk writes to prevent data overwriting is important, as is carefully considering the choice of recovery tool based on the specific situation.