Accessing RAID Disk Files When NAS Level One GNS-4000 is Not Operating: Practical Steps

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Level One GNS-4000
• 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 the NAS Level One GNS-4000 device's CPU or processing power affect data transfer and potential loss?

The CPU or processing power of the NAS Level One GNS-4000 device can affect data transfer and potential loss in several ways:

1. Processing Speed: The CPU's speed determines how quickly the device can handle data requests and perform calculations. A faster CPU can process data more quickly, resulting in faster data transfer speeds.
2. Data Encryption: If the NAS device uses encryption algorithms to secure data during transfer, a powerful CPU is required to perform the encryption and decryption processes. A weak CPU may slow down the encryption/decryption process, affecting data transfer speeds.
3. Network Protocol Processing: The CPU is responsible for handling network protocol processing, such as TCP/IP. If the CPU is underpowered, it may struggle to handle the network traffic efficiently, leading to slower data transfer speeds and potential data loss.
4. RAID Calculations: If the NAS device uses RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) for data redundancy, the CPU is responsible for performing RAID calculations, such as parity calculations in RAID 5. A slower CPU may take longer to perform these calculations, impacting data transfer speeds.
5. Data Integrity Checks: The CPU is involved in verifying data integrity during transfer, such as checksum calculations. If the CPU is slow, it may take longer to perform these checks, potentially leading to data loss if errors are not detected in a timely manner.

In summary, a powerful CPU in the NAS Level One GNS-4000 device ensures faster data transfer speeds, efficient network protocol processing, quick encryption/decryption, and timely data integrity checks, reducing the potential for data loss.

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

Although the NAS GNS-4000 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 GNS-4000. 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

GNS-4000 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• JBOD;

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 GNS-4000 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