Faulty RAID Array Recovery: NAS Actidata actiNAS XL 2U-12 Step-by-Step Guide

Contents

• Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
• How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?

Conventional hard disks keep user’s data by writing it to their surface in a consecutive way, and this is how an entire file is stored on a single hard disk. However, when data is written to a RAID system, a file is divided into several parts. Then these parts are written consecutively to all hard disks within such array. The size of such parts may range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so each file is stored on several hard disks at the same time.

Such approach helps to speed up read and write operations, and it is evident that saving two parts of a file having the size of 1 GB to two hard disks simultaneously is much faster than saving the same 1 GB of data to one hard disk. However, this peculiarity makes file recovery more complicated.

Various RAID levels store information in different ways. Additionally, manufacturers like Actidata also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

Are there any preventive measures to minimize the risk of data loss on NAS Actidata actiNAS XL 2U-12 devices?

Yes, there are several preventive measures you can take to minimize the risk of data loss on NAS Actidata actiNAS XL 2U-12 devices. Here are some important ones:

1. Regular backups: Implement a robust backup strategy to ensure that your data is regularly backed up to an external storage device or cloud storage. This will help you recover your data in case of any unforeseen data loss events.
2. RAID configuration: Configure your actiNAS XL 2U-12 device with a suitable RAID level (such as RAID 1, RAID 5, or RAID 6) to provide redundancy and protect against drive failures. This will help in minimizing the risk of data loss due to hardware failures.
3. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): Connect your NAS device to a UPS to protect it from sudden power outages or fluctuations. This will prevent data corruption or loss that can occur during power interruptions.
4. Regular firmware updates: Keep your NAS device's firmware up to date by regularly checking for and installing any available updates. Firmware updates often include security patches and bug fixes that can help prevent data loss due to vulnerabilities.
5. User access control: Implement proper user access controls and permissions to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data. This will help prevent accidental deletions or modifications by unauthorized users.
6. Network security: Secure your NAS device by configuring firewalls, enabling encryption, and using strong passwords. Additionally, consider isolating your NAS device on a separate network segment to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
7. Monitoring and alerts: Set up monitoring and alert systems to notify you of any potential issues or failures with your NAS device. This will allow you to take timely action and prevent data loss.
8. Regular maintenance: Perform regular maintenance tasks such as checking hard drives for errors, monitoring disk health, and cleaning dust from the device to ensure optimal performance and minimize the risk of data loss.

By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of data loss on your NAS Actidata actiNAS XL 2U-12 devices.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS actiNAS XL 2U-12 can be accessed over the network, you still need to take the hard disks out of the storage device and connect them to a Windows computer. Only in this case will the software be able to scan them properly. Here is what you should do:

1. Turn off the storage and disconnect it from the power supply.

   WARNING! Before you start taking hard disks out of your NAS device, read the manual carefully. Incorrect actions may damage your network-attached storage and/or the hard disks within the RAID system.

2. Take the hard disks out of the NAS one by one, carefully removing them from their slots. Remember that the disks are extremely vulnerable: hitting or dropping them may result in serious physical damage.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. Remove the hard disks and connect them to the computer. In this video, we have explored what ports are used to connect hard disks, and what to do if there are not enough ports or connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Actidata actiNAS XL 2U-12. The hard disks that make up the RAID contain technical information about the algorithm used to save files. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery reads this information and puts the damaged array together. Then you can open the disk and save your files. Also, you can recover the files accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Actidata

actiNAS XL 2U-12 has 11 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

Safe recovery from disk images

This utility lets you save an entire copy of the disk to file and then work with this image instead of the actual disk. Such feature helps to protect data on the disk from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Loss resulting from bad sectors;
• User mistakes.

To create an image, do the following:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. When the image creation wizard starts, you can choose to save the entire disk or select only a part of it. Specify the parameters and click Next.

   

4. At this stage, you need to choose a directory where to save the image. Choose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP.

   

Where are user’s files stored?

The Actidata actiNAS XL 2U-12 network-attached storage keeps OS Linux operating system files on a separate RAID 1 (mirrored) array. Usually, all NAS systems create several volumes on every hard disk, and the first of them takes up to 2 Gb of space. This is where operating system files are stored. Other volumes are united into a RAID array where user’s data is written.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery