- 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 data fragmentation impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 devices?
Data fragmentation can have several impacts on data availability and potential loss on NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 devices:
- Reduced performance: When data is fragmented, it is scattered across different locations on the storage media. This can result in increased seek times and slower data access, leading to reduced performance of the NAS device. Users may experience delays in accessing their data, especially when performing read or write operations.
- Increased disk space usage: Fragmentation can lead to inefficient disk space utilization. As files are split into smaller fragments, it can result in wasted disk space due to the allocation of unused gaps between fragments. This can reduce the overall storage capacity available on the NAS device.
- Increased risk of data loss: Fragmented data is more susceptible to data loss. If a single fragment becomes corrupted or lost, it can affect the entire file or even multiple files. The risk of data loss is higher because fragmented data is spread across different locations, making it more difficult to recover or reconstruct the complete file.
- Difficulty in data recovery: In case of data loss or disk failure, fragmented data can pose challenges in data recovery. As the fragments of a file are scattered across the storage media, it becomes more complex to retrieve and reconstruct the complete file. This can result in longer recovery times and increased chances of partial or incomplete data recovery.
To mitigate the impact of data fragmentation on data availability and potential loss, it is recommended to regularly defragment the NAS device's storage. Defragmentation rearranges fragmented data into contiguous blocks, improving data access speed and reducing the risk of data loss. Additionally, implementing a regular backup strategy ensures that even if data loss occurs, a recent copy of the data can be restored from the backup.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS LOCKERSTOR 2 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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
-
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.
Go to view
Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2. 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 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:
-
Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
-
Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
-
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.
-
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 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, data recovery from a NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 2 device can still be possible even if the device is not responding or freezing frequently. Here are a few steps you can try:
Remember to always have a backup of your important data to avoid data loss situations.