- Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
- How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Why can’t ordinary software tools restore files from RAID?
Conventional hard disks keep user’s data by writing it to their surface in a consecutive way, and this is how an entire file is stored on a single hard disk. However, when data is written to a RAID system, a file is divided into several parts. Then these parts are written consecutively to all hard disks within such array. The size of such parts may range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so each file is stored on several hard disks at the same time.
Such approach helps to speed up read and write operations, and it is evident that saving two parts of a file having the size of 1 GB to two hard disks simultaneously is much faster than saving the same 1 GB of data to one hard disk. However, this peculiarity makes file recovery more complicated.
Various RAID levels store information in different ways. Additionally, manufacturers like LaCie also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.
How can the number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 2 (STFC40000400 / STFC30000400 / STFC20000400 / LAC9000503EK / LAC9000504EK / STFC10000400 / LAC9000510EK) device affect data loss risks?
The number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 2 device can affect data loss risks in the following ways:
- Network congestion: With a large number of concurrent users accessing the NAS device, the network can become congested, leading to slower data transfer speeds and potential data loss due to timeouts or dropped connections.
- Increased chances of user errors: More users accessing the NAS simultaneously can increase the likelihood of accidental deletion, overwriting, or modification of files. This can lead to data loss if backups are not in place.
- Performance degradation: The NAS device may have limited resources, such as processing power or memory, which can be overwhelmed when multiple users are accessing it simultaneously. This can result in performance degradation, file corruption, or even system crashes, leading to potential data loss.
- Security risks: More concurrent users mean a higher chance of unauthorized access or security breaches. If proper access controls and security measures are not in place, sensitive data stored on the NAS device can be compromised, resulting in data loss or data breaches.
To mitigate these risks, it is important to:
- Implement proper access controls and user permissions to limit the number of concurrent users and ensure that only authorized individuals can access the NAS device.
- Regularly backup the data stored on the NAS device to an offsite location or another storage medium to minimize the impact of data loss in case of accidental deletion, hardware failure, or other unforeseen events.
- Monitor the performance of the NAS device and upgrade hardware or optimize configurations if necessary to handle the increased load of concurrent users.
- Implement network monitoring and management tools to identify and resolve network congestion issues promptly.
- Educate users about best practices for data management, including file organization, version control, and data backup procedures, to minimize the risk of user errors leading to data loss.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS 5big Thunderbolt 2 (STFC40000400 / STFC30000400 / STFC20000400 / LAC9000503EK / LAC9000504EK / STFC10000400 / LAC9000510EK) can be accessed over the network, you still need to take the hard disks out of the storage device and connect them to a Windows computer. Only in this case will the software be able to scan them properly. Here is what you should do:
-
Turn off the storage and disconnect it from the power supply.
WARNING! Before you start taking hard disks out of your NAS device, read the manual carefully. Incorrect actions may damage your network-attached storage and/or the hard disks within the RAID system.
-
Take the hard disks out of the NAS one by one, carefully removing them from their slots. Remember that the disks are extremely vulnerable: hitting or dropping them may result in serious physical damage.
-
Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
-
Remove the hard disks and connect them to the computer. In this video, we have explored what ports are used to connect hard disks, and what to do if there are not enough ports or connectors.
Go to view
Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 2 (STFC40000400 / STFC30000400 / STFC20000400 / LAC9000503EK / LAC9000504EK / STFC10000400 / LAC9000510EK). The hard disks that make up the RAID contain technical information about the algorithm used to save files. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery reads this information and puts the damaged array together. Then you can open the disk and save your files. Also, you can recover the files accidentally deleted from the network drive.
5big Thunderbolt 2 (STFC40000400 / STFC30000400 / STFC20000400 / LAC9000503EK / LAC9000504EK / STFC10000400 / LAC9000510EK) has 5 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;
Safe recovery from disk images
This utility lets you save an entire copy of the disk to file and then work with this image instead of the actual disk. Such feature helps to protect data on the disk from:
- Overwriting during the recovery process;
- Loss resulting from bad sectors;
- User mistakes.
To create an image, do the following:
-
Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
-
Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
-
When the image creation wizard starts, you can choose to save the entire disk or select only a part of it. Specify the parameters and click Next.
-
At this stage, you need to choose a directory where to save the image. Choose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP.
Where are user’s files stored?
The LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 2 (STFC40000400 / STFC30000400 / STFC20000400 / LAC9000503EK / LAC9000504EK / STFC10000400 / LAC9000510EK) 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.
Comparison of software for RAID recovery
Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
There are no specific firmware updates or patches recommended for data recovery from LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 2 NAS devices. Firmware updates are typically released to address security vulnerabilities, improve performance, or add new features to the device. However, if you are experiencing data recovery issues with your LaCie NAS, it is recommended to contact LaCie support for assistance. They can provide guidance on troubleshooting steps or recommend any necessary updates or patches specific to your situation.