How to Prevent Data Loss on NAS D-Link DNS-327L and Restore Recently Deleted Files

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS D-Link DNS-327L
• 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 D-Link 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 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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

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

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 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison