Tips for Successful NAS LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 (STFY6000400 / STFY8000400 / STFY10000400) Data Recovery

Contents

• 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?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

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 data fragmentation impact the read and write speeds, and potential data loss on NAS LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 (STFY6000400 / STFY8000400 / STFY10000400) devices?

Data fragmentation can have a significant impact on read and write speeds, as well as potential data loss, on NAS LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 devices. Here's how:

1. Read and Write Speeds: Data fragmentation refers to the scattering of file data across different physical locations on a storage device. When files are fragmented, the read and write heads of the hard drive need to move to multiple locations to retrieve or store the data. This results in increased seek time and decreased overall performance, leading to slower read and write speeds on the NAS device.
2. Data Loss: Fragmentation can also increase the risk of data loss. When files are fragmented, there is a higher chance of data corruption or errors occurring during the read or write process. If a file is partially overwritten or becomes inaccessible due to fragmentation, it can result in data loss or file corruption.

To mitigate the impact of data fragmentation on NAS LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 devices, you can take the following measures:

1. Regular Defragmentation: Perform regular defragmentation on the NAS device to consolidate fragmented files and optimize data placement. This process rearranges the fragmented files, reducing seek time and improving read and write speeds.
2. File System Optimization: Choose a file system that handles fragmentation efficiently. The choice of file system can impact fragmentation levels and overall performance. For example, the NTFS file system used in Windows has built-in defragmentation capabilities, while other file systems like exFAT may require third-party tools.
3. Proper File Organization: Maintain proper file organization and avoid excessive file fragmentation. This can be achieved by avoiding frequent file deletions and ensuring files are stored in contiguous blocks whenever possible.
4. Regular Backup: Implement a regular backup strategy to protect against potential data loss. By backing up your data to an external storage device or cloud storage, you can mitigate the risk of permanent data loss due to fragmentation or other issues.

Remember to consult the manufacturer's guidelines and recommendations specific to your LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 device for optimal performance and data management.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS d2 Thunderbolt 3 (STFY6000400 / STFY8000400 / STFY10000400) 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. 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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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 (STFY6000400 / STFY8000400 / STFY10000400). 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.

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How to recover data from a LaCie

d2 Thunderbolt 3 (STFY6000400 / STFY8000400 / STFY10000400) 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;

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:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. 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.

   

4. 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 d2 Thunderbolt 3 (STFY6000400 / STFY8000400 / STFY10000400) 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