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

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Digiever DS-85120-SRM Pro+
• 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 Digiever 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 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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS DS-85120-SRM Pro+ 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 Digiever DS-85120-SRM Pro+. 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 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;

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 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison