Practical Steps for Accessing Files on a RAID Disk Without Active NAS Instek NR5400-2U

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Instek NR5400-2U
• 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 Instek 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 known limitations or performance bottlenecks that can increase data loss risks for NAS Instek NR5400-2U devices?

There are several potential limitations and performance bottlenecks that can increase data loss risks for NAS Instek NR5400-2U devices. These include:

1. Insufficient redundancy: The NR5400-2U may have limited redundancy options, such as a single power supply or a single network interface. If any of these components fail, it can lead to data loss.
2. Limited scalability: The NR5400-2U may have a limited number of drive bays or a maximum storage capacity. If you exceed these limits, you may not be able to expand your storage or protect against data loss adequately.
3. Network bandwidth limitations: The device's network interface may have a limited bandwidth, which can lead to performance bottlenecks and potential data loss if multiple users or applications try to access or transfer data simultaneously.
4. Inadequate backup and recovery options: The NR5400-2U may have limited backup and recovery features, such as limited support for RAID configurations or lack of support for offsite backups. This can increase the risk of data loss if a drive fails or if there is a catastrophic event at the location of the device.
5. Lack of data protection features: The device may not have advanced data protection features like snapshotting, deduplication, or encryption, which can increase the risk of data loss due to accidental deletion, data corruption, or unauthorized access.
6. Limited hardware lifespan: The NR5400-2U may have a limited hardware lifespan, and as it ages, the risk of hardware failure and subsequent data loss increases.

It is essential to consider these limitations and performance bottlenecks when using the NAS Instek NR5400-2U devices to ensure appropriate data protection measures are in place.

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

Although the NAS NR5400-2U 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 Instek NR5400-2U. 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 Instek

NR5400-2U 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 Instek NR5400-2U 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