RAID Array Recovery Tips for NAS Digiever DS-16325-RM Pro+ Users

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 Digiever 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 regular vulnerability assessments and security audits help identify and mitigate potential data loss risks for NAS Digiever DS-16325-RM Pro+ devices?

Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits can help identify and mitigate potential data loss risks for NAS Digiever DS-16325-RM Pro+ devices in the following ways:

1. Identify vulnerabilities: Vulnerability assessments can help identify any weaknesses or vulnerabilities in the NAS device's firmware, operating system, or applications. This includes identifying outdated software versions, misconfigurations, or insecure default settings that could potentially lead to data loss.
2. Patch management: Regular security audits can ensure that the NAS device's firmware and software are up to date with the latest security patches. This helps protect against known vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to the device or compromise data.
3. Access controls: Assessments and audits can review the access controls and user permissions configured on the NAS device. This helps ensure that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive data and that proper authentication mechanisms are in place to prevent unauthorized access.
4. Encryption and data protection: Assessments can verify if the NAS device supports encryption for data at rest and data in transit. Audits can ensure that encryption is properly implemented and configured to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or interception.
5. Backup and disaster recovery: Assessments can evaluate the backup and disaster recovery mechanisms in place for the NAS device. This includes checking if regular backups are performed, testing the restoration process, and verifying the availability of redundant storage or off-site backups. These measures can help mitigate the risk of data loss in case of hardware failures, accidents, or cyberattacks.
6. Network security: Assessments can review the network configuration of the NAS device, including firewall rules, network segmentation, and intrusion detection systems. Audits can help ensure that the device is isolated from potentially insecure or unauthorized networks, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data loss.
7. User awareness and training: Assessments and audits can also evaluate the level of user awareness and training regarding data security best practices. This includes educating users on how to properly handle and store sensitive data, recognizing phishing attempts, and understanding the importance of strong passwords.

By conducting regular vulnerability assessments and security audits, organizations can proactively identify and address potential data loss risks for NAS Digiever DS-16325-RM Pro+ devices, thereby enhancing the overall security posture and protecting valuable data.

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

Although NAS DS-16325-RM Pro+ 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 Digiever DS-16325-RM Pro+. 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 Digiever

DS-16325-RM Pro+ has 16 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• 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 Digiever DS-16325-RM Pro+ 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