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

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Actidata actiNAS XL 2U-12
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Actidata often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS actiNAS XL 2U-12 can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Actidata actiNAS XL 2U-12. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were 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;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison