- 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 LG 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 regular software updates and patches enhance the security and stability of NAS LG N2B1 / N2B1D devices?
Regular software updates and patches can enhance the security and stability of NAS LG N2B1 / N2B1D devices in the following ways:
- Security vulnerability fixes: Updates and patches often address known security vulnerabilities in the device's software. By regularly updating the software, you ensure that any identified security flaws are patched, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.
- Bug fixes and stability improvements: Updates and patches also address software bugs and stability issues. These fixes can improve the overall performance and reliability of the NAS device, minimizing crashes, data corruption, or other stability-related problems.
- Compatibility with new technologies: As technology evolves, new protocols, file systems, or network standards may emerge. Regular updates ensure that your NAS device remains compatible with the latest technologies, allowing you to take advantage of new features and functionalities.
- Improved user experience: Updates often include user interface enhancements, introducing new features, improving usability, or optimizing existing functionalities. These updates can enhance the overall user experience and make managing the NAS device easier and more efficient.
- Protection against emerging threats: Cyber threats constantly evolve, and new attack vectors are discovered regularly. Regular software updates help protect your NAS device against emerging threats by implementing security measures and countermeasures against the latest attack techniques.
- Compliance with industry standards: Many industries have specific regulations and standards for data security and privacy. Regular updates ensure that your NAS device remains compliant with these standards, helping you meet regulatory requirements and avoid potential penalties.
To ensure the security and stability of your NAS LG N2B1 / N2B1D devices, it is crucial to enable automatic updates or regularly check for and install the latest software updates and patches provided by the manufacturer.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS N2B1 / N2B1D 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 LG N2B1 / N2B1D. 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.
N2B1 / N2B1D has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- JBOD;
NAS supports:
- Ext2;
- Ext3;
- Ext4;
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 LG N2B1 / N2B1D 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.
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 |
No, data recovery from a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the LG N2B1 / N2B1D cannot be done remotely. Data recovery typically involves physical access to the storage device to retrieve the data. Remote data recovery is usually not possible for NAS devices as they are designed to be accessed over a network rather than remotely recovered. If you need to recover data from a NAS device, it is recommended to contact a professional data recovery service or consult the manufacturer for assistance.