How to Recover from Faulty RAID Arrays in NAS Idis DR-4132P Systems

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Idis DR-4132P
• 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.

How can the number of drives in a NAS Idis DR-4132P device's RAID array impact data recovery and potential loss?

The number of drives in a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device's RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) array can significantly impact data recovery and potential loss. Here are a few key points to consider:

1. Fault tolerance: RAID arrays are designed to provide fault tolerance by distributing data across multiple drives. The most common RAID levels include RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10. The specific RAID level chosen determines the level of redundancy and fault tolerance.
2. Data recovery: In case of a drive failure, the RAID array can recover the lost data from the remaining drives. The number of drives in the array affects the recovery process. RAID levels like RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 10 (striping with mirroring) offer better data recovery capabilities as they maintain an exact copy of the data on multiple drives. On the other hand, RAID levels like RAID 0 (striping) do not provide any data redundancy, making data recovery difficult or impossible if a drive fails.
3. Rebuild time: When a failed drive is replaced in a RAID array, the data needs to be rebuilt onto the new drive. The rebuild time depends on the number of drives in the array. Larger arrays with more drives generally take longer to rebuild, increasing the vulnerability to additional drive failures during the rebuild process. If another drive fails during this time, it can lead to data loss.
4. Potential data loss: The number of drives in the RAID array affects the potential for data loss. RAID levels like RAID 5 and RAID 6 can tolerate the failure of one or more drives without losing data. However, if multiple drives fail simultaneously or during the rebuild process, the data on the array may be permanently lost.

In summary, the number of drives in a NAS device's RAID array impacts data recovery and potential loss. It is important to choose a RAID level that suits your data protection requirements and consider the trade-offs between fault tolerance, performance, and rebuild time. Additionally, regular backups are crucial to mitigate the risk of data loss in any RAID configuration.

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

Although the NAS DR-4132P 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-4132P. 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-4132P has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• 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-4132P 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