NAS Digiever MN-2132 Pro+ RAID Array Recovery: Handling Faulty Arrays

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 data fragmentation impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Digiever MN-2132 Pro+ devices?

Data fragmentation can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss on NAS Digiever MN-2132 Pro+ devices. Here's how:

1. Reduced Performance: Fragmentation occurs when files are stored in non-contiguous blocks on a storage device. This leads to increased seek times and reduced performance when accessing fragmented data. As a result, the NAS device may experience slower data retrieval, affecting data availability.
2. Increased Disk Wear: Fragmented data requires more physical movement of the disk heads to access the scattered blocks. This increased disk activity can lead to higher wear and tear on the hard drives, potentially increasing the chances of disk failure and subsequent data loss.
3. Increased Risk of Data Loss: Fragmentation can exacerbate the risk of data loss. When files are fragmented, if a single block or sector becomes corrupted or lost, it can render the entire file or multiple files inaccessible. The scattered nature of fragmented data makes it more susceptible to errors and makes data recovery more challenging.
4. Difficulty in Backup and Recovery: Data fragmentation can complicate the backup and recovery process. Fragmented data may require more time and resources to back up, as the backup software needs to locate and collect the scattered blocks. Similarly, recovering fragmented data from backups can be more time-consuming and prone to errors.
5. Limited Storage Efficiency: Fragmentation reduces the overall storage efficiency of the NAS device. As files become fragmented, they occupy more physical space on the disk than necessary, leading to wasted storage capacity. This inefficiency can limit the amount of available storage for new data, impacting data availability.

To mitigate these impacts, regular defragmentation of the NAS Digiever MN-2132 Pro+ devices is essential. Defragmentation rearranges fragmented files, optimizing data placement and improving performance. Additionally, implementing a robust backup strategy, such as regular backups to an external storage device or cloud storage, can help protect against data loss.

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

Although NAS MN-2132 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 MN-2132 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

MN-2132 Pro+ 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;

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 MN-2132 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