NAS LaCie 6big Thunderbolt 3 (STFK108000400 / STFK84000402 / STFK60000402 / STFK48000402 / STFK24000402 / STFK12000400 / STFK24000400 / STFK36000400 / STFK48000400 / STFK60000400 / STFK84000400 / STFK96000400) Data Recovery Made Simple

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS LaCie 6big Thunderbolt 3 (STFK108000400 / STFK84000402 / STFK60000402 / STFK48000402 / STFK24000402 / STFK12000400 / STFK24000400 / STFK36000400 / STFK48000400 / STFK60000400 / STFK84000400 / STFK96000400)
• 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.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the 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 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 LaCie 6big Thunderbolt 3 (STFK108000400 / STFK84000402 / STFK60000402 / STFK48000402 / STFK24000402 / STFK12000400 / STFK24000400 / STFK36000400 / STFK48000400 / STFK60000400 / STFK84000400 / STFK96000400). 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 LaCie

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;

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 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison