How to Fix a Faulty RAID Array in NAS Idis DR-8516 and Recover Data

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Idis DR-8516
• 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 RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Idis DR-8516 devices?

RAID configurations can have a significant impact on data loss in NAS Idis DR-8516 devices. Here are a few ways RAID can affect data loss:

1. Redundancy: RAID configurations, such as RAID 1 (mirroring) or RAID 5 (striping with parity), provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple disks. If one disk fails, the data can still be accessed from the remaining disks. This redundancy helps to minimize data loss in case of disk failures.
2. Fault tolerance: RAID configurations offer fault tolerance, allowing the NAS device to continue functioning even if one or more disks fail. The system can rebuild the data from the remaining disks onto a replacement disk, reducing the risk of data loss during the recovery process.
3. Performance: RAID configurations can impact data loss indirectly by affecting system performance. For example, RAID 0 (striping without redundancy) offers improved performance by splitting data across multiple disks, but it does not provide any redundancy. If one disk fails in a RAID 0 configuration, all the data stored on that disk will be lost.
4. Rebuild time: When a disk fails in a RAID configuration, the system needs to rebuild the data onto a replacement disk. The rebuild time can be lengthy, especially for larger capacities or higher RAID levels. During this rebuild process, if another disk fails or encounters errors, it can lead to data loss or corruption.
5. RAID controller failure: The RAID controller in a NAS device manages the RAID configurations and disk operations. If the RAID controller fails, it can result in data loss or make it difficult to access the data stored on the disks.

It is important to choose the appropriate RAID configuration based on the desired level of redundancy, fault tolerance, and performance. Regular backups and monitoring of the RAID system are also crucial to mitigate the risk of data loss in NAS Idis DR-8516 devices.

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

Although the NAS DR-8516 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.

   Go to view

   

   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-8516. 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a Idis

DR-8516 has 8 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:

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-8516 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