How to Retrieve Deleted Data from NAS LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 (STGB8000400 / STGB12000400 / STGB16000400 / STGB20000400 / STGB32000400) Systems

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 (STGB8000400 / STGB12000400 / STGB16000400 / STGB20000400 / STGB32000400)
• 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 LaCie 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 issues related to specific RAID levels in NAS LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 (STGB8000400 / STGB12000400 / STGB16000400 / STGB20000400 / STGB32000400) devices?

There are a few limitations and performance issues that can be associated with specific RAID levels in NAS LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 devices. Here are some considerations:

1. RAID 0: This level offers maximum performance and capacity by striping data across multiple drives. However, it does not provide any data redundancy, so if one drive fails, all data is lost.
2. RAID 1: This level mirrors data across two drives, providing data redundancy. However, it sacrifices half of the total capacity for the redundant copy.
3. RAID 5: This level stripes data across multiple drives with parity information, providing both performance and data redundancy. However, it requires at least three drives and can be slower for write operations due to the overhead of calculating parity.
4. RAID 6: Similar to RAID 5, but with dual parity, RAID 6 provides even higher data redundancy. It requires at least four drives and has a higher overhead for write operations.
5. RAID 10: This level combines RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 0 (striping) to provide both performance and data redundancy. It requires at least four drives, and half of the total capacity is used for mirroring.

Performance issues can arise in RAID levels that involve parity calculations (RAID 5 and RAID 6) due to the additional overhead. Write operations can be slower compared to RAID levels without parity. Additionally, rebuilding a RAID array after a drive failure can take longer for larger capacity drives.

It's important to choose the RAID level that best suits your needs, considering factors like performance, capacity, and data redundancy.

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

Although the NAS 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 (STGB8000400 / STGB12000400 / STGB16000400 / STGB20000400 / STGB32000400) 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 LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 (STGB8000400 / STGB12000400 / STGB16000400 / STGB20000400 / STGB32000400). 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 LaCie

2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 (STGB8000400 / STGB12000400 / STGB16000400 / STGB20000400 / STGB32000400) 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 LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 (STGB8000400 / STGB12000400 / STGB16000400 / STGB20000400 / STGB32000400) network-attached storage keeps LaCie NAS OS 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