- 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 a NAS LaCie 6big Thunderbolt 3 (STFK108000400 / STFK84000402 / STFK60000402 / STFK48000402 / STFK24000402 / STFK12000400 / STFK24000400 / STFK36000400 / STFK48000400 / STFK60000400 / STFK84000400 / STFK96000400) device's power management settings impact data availability and potential loss?
The power management settings of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the LaCie 6big Thunderbolt 3 can impact data availability and potential loss in a few ways:
- Sleep Mode: NAS devices often have a sleep mode feature that allows them to enter a low-power state when not in use. While this can save energy, it can also affect data availability. If the NAS enters sleep mode, it may take some time to wake up and become accessible again, causing a delay in accessing data. In some cases, the NAS may not wake up properly, leading to potential data loss if important operations were in progress.
- Drive Spindown: Some NAS devices allow individual hard drives to spin down when not in use to save power. When a drive is spun down, it may take a few seconds to spin up again when data access is required. This can lead to slower performance and delays in accessing data. Additionally, frequent spin-up and spin-down cycles may increase wear and tear on the hard drives, potentially reducing their lifespan.
- Power Interruptions: Inadequate power management settings can increase the risk of data loss in case of power interruptions. If the NAS device is not properly configured to handle power outages or sudden power loss, it may not have enough time to save data or properly shut down. This can result in data corruption or loss, especially if write operations were in progress at the time of the power interruption.
To mitigate the impact of power management settings on data availability and potential loss, it is advisable to:
- Adjust sleep mode settings carefully, ensuring the NAS doesn't enter sleep mode too quickly or frequently.
- Consider the trade-off between power savings and data availability when configuring drive spindown settings.
- Use a reliable uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect the NAS device from sudden power loss and allow it to gracefully shut down during power outages.
- Regularly backup important data stored on the NAS to an offsite location or another storage device to minimize the risk of permanent data loss.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS 6big Thunderbolt 3 (STFK108000400 / STFK84000402 / STFK60000402 / STFK48000402 / STFK24000402 / STFK12000400 / STFK24000400 / STFK36000400 / STFK48000400 / STFK60000400 / STFK84000400 / STFK96000400) 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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.
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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with LaCie 6big Thunderbolt 3 (STFK108000400 / STFK84000402 / STFK60000402 / STFK48000402 / STFK24000402 / STFK12000400 / STFK24000400 / STFK36000400 / STFK48000400 / STFK60000400 / STFK84000400 / STFK96000400). 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.
6big Thunderbolt 3 (STFK108000400 / STFK84000402 / STFK60000402 / STFK48000402 / STFK24000402 / STFK12000400 / STFK24000400 / STFK36000400 / STFK48000400 / STFK60000400 / STFK84000400 / STFK96000400) 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;
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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 6big Thunderbolt 3 (STFK108000400 / STFK84000402 / STFK60000402 / STFK48000402 / STFK24000402 / STFK12000400 / STFK24000400 / STFK36000400 / STFK48000400 / STFK60000400 / STFK84000400 / STFK96000400) 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 |
Recovering data from a physically damaged NAS device is a complex task that typically requires professional data recovery services. If your NAS LaCie 6big Thunderbolt 3 device has been physically damaged due to a power surge, it is recommended to contact a reputable data recovery service provider.
These professionals have the expertise and specialized equipment to handle physically damaged devices and attempt to recover the data. They will assess the extent of the damage and employ various techniques to retrieve the data from the damaged NAS device.
It's important to note that the success of data recovery depends on the severity of the damage. In some cases, data may be fully recoverable, while in others, it may be partially or even completely unrecoverable.