Recovering Faulty RAID Arrays: NAS Idis DR-6508P User Guide

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Idis DR-6508P
• 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 regular system monitoring and alerting help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Idis DR-6508P devices?

Regular system monitoring and alerting can help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Idis DR-6508P devices in the following ways:

1. Real-time monitoring: System monitoring tools can constantly monitor the health and performance of the NAS device. This includes monitoring disk usage, CPU and memory usage, network traffic, and other system parameters. By keeping a close eye on these metrics, any abnormal behavior or warning signs can be detected early.
2. Event logging: Monitoring tools can log all system events and activities, providing a detailed record of what is happening on the NAS device. This log can be reviewed regularly to identify any unusual or suspicious activities that may indicate a potential data loss event.
3. Disk health monitoring: NAS devices typically use multiple hard drives in a RAID configuration for data redundancy. Monitoring tools can regularly check the status and health of these disks, including SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) attributes. If any disk shows signs of failure or degradation, an alert can be triggered, allowing for proactive action to prevent data loss.
4. Network monitoring: Monitoring network traffic can help detect any unauthorized access attempts or unusual data transfers. By setting up alerts for suspicious network activities, administrators can be notified immediately when potential data loss events are detected.
5. Backup monitoring: Regular monitoring of backup processes is crucial to ensure that data is being successfully backed up and that backups are up to date. Monitoring tools can verify the integrity of backups, check for any backup failures, and alert administrators if any issues are detected. This helps in preventing data loss by ensuring that a recent and reliable backup is available in case of any data loss event.
6. Alerting mechanisms: System monitoring tools can be configured to send alerts via email, SMS, or other notification channels whenever predefined thresholds or abnormal activities are detected. These alerts can be set up for various metrics like disk usage, CPU load, network traffic, or specific events related to data loss. By receiving timely alerts, administrators can take immediate action to prevent or mitigate data loss events.

By implementing regular system monitoring and alerting on NAS Idis DR-6508P devices, administrators can proactively detect and prevent data loss events, ensuring the safety and availability of critical data.

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

Although the NAS DR-6508P 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-6508P. 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-6508P has 6 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-6508P 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