How to recover data from D-Link DNS-327L NAS

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 D-Link 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 a NAS D-Link DNS-327L device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the D-Link DNS-327L can significantly impact data transfer speed and potential loss. Here's how:

1. Data Transfer Speed: The network throughput of a NAS device determines how quickly data can be transferred between the NAS and other devices on the network. If the NAS has a low network throughput, it will take longer to transfer files, especially large ones. This can lead to slower data backup, retrieval, or synchronization processes, affecting overall productivity.
2. Latency and Response Time: Network throughput also affects the latency or response time of the NAS device. A high network throughput ensures that data requests are processed quickly, resulting in faster access to files and folders stored on the NAS. Conversely, a low throughput can increase latency, causing delays in retrieving or accessing files, which can be frustrating for users.
3. Concurrent Users: The network throughput capacity of a NAS device determines how many users can access and transfer data simultaneously without experiencing performance degradation. If the NAS has limited bandwidth capacity, it may struggle to handle multiple users accessing or transferring data concurrently. This can result in slower transfer speeds, increased latency, and potential data loss due to timeouts or dropped connections.
4. Data Loss and Corruption: Insufficient network throughput can lead to data loss or corruption during transfer. If the NAS device's bandwidth capacity is overwhelmed by the amount of data being transferred, packets may be dropped or corrupted. This can result in incomplete or damaged files, leading to data loss. Additionally, if the network connection is unstable due to limited throughput, interruptions or disconnections during data transfer can also cause data loss or corruption.

To mitigate these issues, it is important to ensure that the NAS device's network throughput matches the requirements of the network environment. Upgrading to a higher-capacity NAS or improving the network infrastructure (such as using Gigabit Ethernet connections) can enhance network throughput, resulting in faster and more reliable data transfers with reduced potential for data loss.

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

Although NAS DNS-327L 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 D-Link DNS-327L. 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 D-Link

DNS-327L has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• 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 D-Link DNS-327L 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