- 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?
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 performance monitoring and optimization help in preventing data loss on NAS Digiever DS-8580-SRM Pro+ devices?
Regular performance monitoring and optimization can help in preventing data loss on NAS Digiever DS-8580-SRM Pro+ devices in the following ways:
- Early detection of issues: Regular monitoring allows you to identify potential performance issues or bottlenecks in the NAS system. By monitoring system metrics such as CPU usage, memory utilization, disk I/O, and network traffic, you can catch any anomalies or signs of system degradation early on. This helps in preventing any unexpected failures or data loss.
- Capacity planning: Monitoring the storage capacity utilization helps in identifying when the storage is nearing its limit. By monitoring the available storage space and growth trends, you can plan for additional storage in advance, preventing the NAS from running out of space and potentially causing data loss.
- RAID health monitoring: NAS devices like Digiever DS-8580-SRM Pro+ often use RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection. Regular monitoring of RAID health, including disk status, array integrity, and rebuild progress, ensures that any potential issues are detected promptly. This helps in preventing data loss due to disk failures or RAID degradation.
- Backup verification: Monitoring the status and success of regular backups is crucial for data protection. Regularly verifying the integrity and completeness of backups ensures that the data is properly backed up and can be restored in case of data loss or system failure.
- Performance optimization: Regular monitoring helps in identifying performance bottlenecks and optimizing the NAS system for better performance. By analyzing the system metrics and identifying areas of improvement, you can optimize resource allocation, network configurations, and storage settings. This helps in preventing performance-related issues that could lead to data loss.
Overall, regular performance monitoring and optimization provide proactive measures to identify and address potential issues, ensuring the reliability, performance, and data integrity of the NAS Digiever DS-8580-SRM Pro+ devices.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS DS-8580-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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Digiever DS-8580-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.
DS-8580-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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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-8580-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
Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, it is highly recommended to have a backup of the data on the NAS Digiever DS-8580-SRM Pro+ before attempting any data recovery. This is because data recovery processes can sometimes be complex and there is a risk of further data loss or damage during the recovery process. Having a backup ensures that even if something goes wrong during the recovery attempt, you still have a copy of your data that can be restored. It is always best practice to regularly backup important data to prevent data loss situations.