- 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?
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 Asustor also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.
How can storage tiering or caching strategies impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 Gen2 devices?
Storage tiering and caching strategies can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss on NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 Gen2 devices. Here's how:
- Increased Data Availability: Storage tiering and caching strategies can improve data availability by ensuring that frequently accessed or critical data is stored on faster storage tiers or cache. This allows for quicker access to data, reducing latency and improving overall system performance. By prioritizing data based on its importance and access patterns, the chances of data being available when needed are significantly increased.
- Reduced Potential Data Loss: By implementing storage tiering and caching strategies, the risk of data loss can be minimized. These strategies often involve redundancy mechanisms such as data mirroring or RAID configurations. In case of a drive failure, the redundant copies of data can be used to rebuild the lost data, ensuring that no data is permanently lost. Additionally, caching strategies can also help mitigate potential data loss by temporarily storing frequently accessed data in cache, reducing the reliance on slower storage devices.
- Improved Disaster Recovery: Storage tiering and caching strategies can also play a crucial role in disaster recovery scenarios. By having multiple tiers of storage with different levels of redundancy, data can be protected against various types of disasters, including drive failures, natural disasters, or even human errors. The ability to quickly recover data from redundant copies or cache can significantly reduce the recovery time and minimize the impact of a disaster on data availability.
- Performance Optimization: Storage tiering and caching strategies can optimize the performance of NAS devices like Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 Gen2. By leveraging faster storage tiers or cache, frequently accessed data can be delivered more quickly, improving overall system performance. This can be particularly beneficial in scenarios where multiple users are accessing the NAS simultaneously or when dealing with resource-intensive applications.
However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of storage tiering and caching strategies depends on factors such as the workload, data access patterns, and the specific implementation. It's recommended to carefully plan and configure these strategies based on the specific requirements and characteristics of the data being stored on the NAS device.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS LOCKERSTOR 2 Gen2 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 Gen2. 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.
LOCKERSTOR 2 Gen2 has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- JBOD;
NAS supports:
- Ext2;
- Ext3;
- Ext4;
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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 Gen2 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
Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, it is possible to recover data from a NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 Gen2 device that has been affected by a hardware malfunction or component failure. However, the success of data recovery depends on the extent of the damage and the specific circumstances of the failure.
In case of a hardware malfunction or component failure, it is recommended to contact a professional data recovery service with experience in NAS devices. They have specialized tools and expertise to recover data from faulty NAS devices.
The data recovery process typically involves repairing or replacing the faulty hardware component, extracting the data from the storage drives, and then transferring it to a new storage medium. It is important to note that data recovery from a faulty NAS device can be a complex and time-consuming process, and there is no guarantee of 100% success.