- 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 Huawei 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 the number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS Huawei OceanStor 5610 device affect data loss risks?
The number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS Huawei OceanStor 5610 device can affect data loss risks in the following ways:
- Network congestion: When a large number of users access the NAS simultaneously, it can lead to network congestion. This congestion can cause delays in data transmission and increase the chances of data loss or corruption.
- Performance degradation: The more concurrent users accessing the NAS, the higher the load on the device's resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage. If the device is not able to handle the increased workload efficiently, it may result in performance degradation. Slow response times or timeouts can increase the risk of data loss if users are forced to interrupt ongoing operations or abruptly disconnect from the NAS.
- Disk I/O contention: Concurrent access by multiple users can create disk I/O contention, where multiple requests are competing for limited disk resources. This contention can lead to slower data retrieval and storage operations, increasing the risk of data loss due to delays or errors in writing or reading data.
- Data integrity issues: When multiple users simultaneously modify or access the same files or folders on the NAS, there is a higher chance of conflicts and data integrity issues. Concurrent updates or conflicting changes can result in data inconsistencies or loss if proper file locking mechanisms or access controls are not in place.
- Increased chances of accidental deletion: With more concurrent users accessing the NAS, there is a higher probability of accidental deletion or overwriting of files. Human errors, such as mistakenly deleting important data or saving incorrect changes, become more likely as the number of users increases.
To mitigate these risks, it is essential to properly configure and manage the NAS Huawei OceanStor 5610 device. This includes implementing appropriate access controls, user quotas, and file locking mechanisms to prevent conflicts and unauthorized access. Additionally, monitoring the device's performance, network bandwidth, and disk utilization can help identify and address potential bottlenecks before they lead to data loss.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS OceanStor 5610 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 Huawei OceanStor 5610. 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.
OceanStor 5610 has 576 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 Huawei OceanStor 5610 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 |
While I cannot provide specific recommendations, here are a few data recovery service providers that are well-known in the industry and may be able to assist you with data recovery for NAS Huawei OceanStor 5610 devices:
It is always recommended to research and contact multiple service providers to compare their expertise, pricing, and customer reviews before making a decision. Additionally, it is advisable to check if the service provider has experience specifically with Huawei OceanStor 5610 devices.