RAID Array Recovery Tips for NAS Digiever DS-85120-SRM Pro+ Data Safety

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 data verification or checksum processes help maintain data integrity on NAS Digiever DS-85120-SRM Pro+ devices?

Regular data verification or checksum processes can help maintain data integrity on NAS Digiever DS-85120-SRM Pro+ devices in the following ways:

1. Detecting data corruption: Regular data verification processes involve comparing the checksums or hashes of the stored data with the expected values. This helps identify any inconsistencies or corruption in the data. By regularly performing these checks, you can quickly detect any data integrity issues on the NAS device.
2. Preventing silent data corruption: Silent data corruption refers to the situation where data gets corrupted without any visible signs or error messages. Regular data verification processes can help identify such corruption by comparing the checksums. If the checksums don't match, it indicates that the data has been corrupted, even if it is not immediately apparent.
3. Ensuring data consistency: Data verification processes can help ensure that the data stored on the NAS device remains consistent over time. By periodically verifying the checksums, you can be confident that the data has not been altered or modified unintentionally. This is especially important for critical data that needs to be preserved accurately.
4. Early detection of storage issues: Regular data verification can also help identify any underlying storage issues that may affect data integrity. For example, if the NAS device has faulty disks or a deteriorating RAID array, the verification process may reveal errors or inconsistencies in the data. This early detection allows you to take corrective actions, such as replacing faulty hardware or repairing the RAID setup, before data loss or corruption occurs.
5. Compliance with data integrity standards: Many industries and regulatory bodies require organizations to maintain data integrity as part of their compliance obligations. Regular data verification processes can help demonstrate compliance with these standards by ensuring that the data stored on the NAS device remains intact and unaltered.

Overall, regular data verification or checksum processes provide a proactive approach to maintaining data integrity on NAS Digiever DS-85120-SRM Pro+ devices. By detecting and preventing data corruption, ensuring data consistency, and identifying storage issues, these processes help safeguard the integrity of your stored data.

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

Although NAS DS-85120-SRM 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-85120-SRM 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-85120-SRM Pro+ has 8 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-85120-SRM 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