How to Access Files on a RAID Disk When NAS Level One FNS-1020 is Not Working: Comprehensive Guide

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Level One FNS-1020
• 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 Level One 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 RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Level One FNS-1020 devices?

RAID configurations can have a significant impact on data loss in NAS Level One FNS-1020 devices. Here are a few ways RAID configurations can affect data loss:

1. Fault tolerance: RAID configurations, such as RAID 1 (mirroring) or RAID 5 (striping with parity), provide fault tolerance by creating redundant copies of data or distributing parity information across multiple disks. In the event of a disk failure, the data can be rebuilt or retrieved from the remaining disks. This reduces the risk of data loss due to disk failures.
2. Data recovery: RAID configurations can enable data recovery in case of disk failures. With RAID 1, where data is mirrored across multiple disks, the data can still be accessed even if one disk fails. Similarly, in RAID 5, the parity information can be used to reconstruct the data if one disk fails. This enhances the chances of recovering data and reduces the impact of data loss.
3. Performance impact: Different RAID configurations have varying impacts on performance. For example, RAID 0 (striping) improves performance by spreading data across multiple disks, but it offers no redundancy. If one disk fails in RAID 0, all data is lost. On the other hand, RAID 1 and RAID 5 configurations provide redundancy but may have a slight performance impact due to the overhead of maintaining redundant data or parity information.
4. Rebuild time: When a failed disk is replaced in a RAID configuration, the data needs to be rebuilt or restored from the remaining disks. The time required for this process, known as rebuild time, can impact the vulnerability to data loss. During the rebuild process, if another disk fails or encounters errors, there is a risk of data loss. Therefore, shorter rebuild times are desirable to minimize the exposure to data loss.
5. RAID controller failure: In NAS devices, the RAID controller manages the RAID configuration and disk operations. If the RAID controller fails, it can lead to data loss or inaccessibility of the data. Therefore, it is important to ensure the reliability and redundancy of the RAID controller to mitigate the risk of data loss.

Overall, the choice of RAID configuration, the reliability of the disks and RAID controller, and the speed of data rebuild processes all play a crucial role in minimizing the impact of data loss in NAS Level One FNS-1020 devices.

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

Although the NAS FNS-1020 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 Level One FNS-1020. 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 Level One

FNS-1020 has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• None;

NAS supports:

• Ext2;
• Ext3;
• Ext4;

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 Level One FNS-1020 network-attached storage keeps OS Linux 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