How to Fix a Damaged RAID Array on NAS Idis DR-2304P with Several Faulty Disks

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Idis DR-2304P
• 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 Idis 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.

Are there any specific industry regulations or compliance requirements to consider when securing data on NAS Idis DR-2304P devices?

Yes, there are several industry regulations and compliance requirements to consider when securing data on NAS Idis DR-2304P devices. Some of the important ones include:

1. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): If you handle personal data of European Union citizens, you need to comply with GDPR regulations. This includes implementing appropriate security measures to protect personal data, such as encryption, access controls, and regular security assessments.
2. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): If you store or process protected health information (PHI), you need to comply with HIPAA regulations. This involves implementing safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI, including access controls, encryption, and regular audits.
3. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): If you handle credit card information, you must comply with PCI DSS requirements. This includes implementing strong access controls, encryption, and regular security testing to protect cardholder data.
4. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework: The NIST framework provides guidelines on how to manage and secure data effectively. It includes best practices for identifying, protecting, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents.
5. Industry-specific regulations: Depending on the industry you operate in, there may be specific regulations to consider. For example, financial institutions need to comply with regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), while educational institutions need to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

It is important to thoroughly understand the specific regulations and compliance requirements applicable to your organization and ensure that appropriate security measures are implemented on NAS Idis DR-2304P devices to meet those requirements.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS DR-2304P 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 Idis DR-2304P. 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 Idis

DR-2304P 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;

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 Idis DR-2304P 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