
- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS Huawei OceanStor 5610
- How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
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 Huawei 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 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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS OceanStor 5610 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:
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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.
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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.
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Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.
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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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Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Huawei OceanStor 5610. 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.
How to recover data from a Huawei
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;
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:
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Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.
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In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.
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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.

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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 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.
RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison
| Product | Operating system | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, APFS, HFS+, Ext4, Ext3, Ext2, ReiserFS, Btrfs, VMFS, Hikvision, XFS, UFS, ZFS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 10 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | 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.