How to Extract Data from a RAID Disk When NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 6 Gen2 Won’t Initialize

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 6 Gen2
• 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 Asustor 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.

How does a NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 6 Gen2 device store and manage data?

The NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 6 Gen2 device stores and manages data using various mechanisms and features. Here are some key aspects:

1. Hard Drives: The device typically supports multiple hard drives (up to 6 in this case) that are installed in drive bays. These drives provide the primary storage space for data.
2. RAID: The device supports various RAID configurations, such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, etc. RAID allows for data redundancy and/or striping across multiple drives, improving performance and protecting against drive failures.
3. File System: The device uses a file system (e.g., ext4) to organize and manage data on the hard drives. The file system handles file and folder structures, permissions, and metadata.
4. Network Connectivity: The device connects to the network via Ethernet, allowing users to access and manage data remotely. It supports various network protocols like SMB/CIFS, AFP, FTP, etc., enabling cross-platform compatibility.
5. User and Group Management: The device has a user and group management system, allowing administrators to create and manage multiple user accounts with different access privileges. This ensures secure data access and prevents unauthorized access.
6. Data Protection: The device offers data protection features like snapshots, which capture the state of files and folders at a specific point in time, allowing easy recovery of previous versions or deleted data. It may also support backup and replication to external storage devices or cloud services.
7. Applications and Services: The device may have a built-in operating system (e.g., ADM - Asustor Data Master) that provides various applications and services, such as file sharing, media streaming, cloud synchronization, virtualization, surveillance, etc. These applications enhance data management and usage.
8. Web-based Management Interface: The device typically provides a web-based management interface, allowing users to configure and monitor various settings, create and manage shared folders, set up user accounts, and perform other administrative tasks.

Overall, the NAS Asustor LOCKERSTOR 6 Gen2 device combines hardware, software, and network connectivity to store and manage data efficiently, securely, and with various data protection mechanisms.

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

Although the NAS LOCKERSTOR 6 Gen2 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 Asustor LOCKERSTOR 6 Gen2. 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 Asustor

LOCKERSTOR 6 Gen2 has 6 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 10;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• Ext2;
• Ext3;
• Ext4;

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 Asustor LOCKERSTOR 6 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison