- 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 Netgear 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 software bugs or glitches impact data integrity on NAS Netgear ReadyNAS RN104 devices?
Software bugs or glitches can impact data integrity on NAS Netgear ReadyNAS RN104 devices in several ways:
- Data corruption: Bugs or glitches in the software can cause data corruption, leading to the loss or modification of files stored on the device. This can result in data integrity issues, making the data unusable or unreliable.
- File system errors: Software bugs can introduce errors in the file system used by the NAS device. These errors can lead to file system inconsistencies, making it difficult to access or retrieve data from the device.
- Data loss: In some cases, software bugs or glitches can cause data loss on the NAS device. This can occur if the bug affects the device's ability to properly save or store data, leading to permanent loss of files or data.
- Data modification: Bugs or glitches can also result in unintended modifications to data stored on the NAS device. This can include changes to file content, metadata, or even file deletion. Such modifications can compromise the integrity and reliability of the stored data.
- Unreliable backups: NAS devices often provide backup functionality to protect data. However, software bugs can affect the backup process, resulting in incomplete or unreliable backups. This can impact data integrity if the backups cannot be used to restore data accurately.
To mitigate the impact of software bugs or glitches on data integrity, it is recommended to:
- Keep the NAS device's firmware and software up to date by regularly applying updates and patches provided by Netgear.
- Enable automatic software updates to ensure that any bug fixes or security patches are promptly applied.
- Regularly back up the data stored on the NAS device to an external storage or cloud-based backup solution.
- Monitor for any reported software bugs or glitches related to the specific NAS model and promptly apply any available fixes or workarounds.
- Implement RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) or other data redundancy measures to protect against data loss in case of hardware or software failures.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS ReadyNAS RN104 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 Netgear ReadyNAS RN104. 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.
How to recover data from a Netgear
ReadyNAS RN104 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- X-RAID;
- RAID 1;
- RAID 5;
- RAID 6;
- JBOD;
NAS supports:
- Ext2;
- Ext3;
- Ext4;
- Btrfs;
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 Netgear ReadyNAS RN104 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 |
To recover data from an encrypted Netgear ReadyNAS RN104 device, you would typically need the encryption key or password that was set during the encryption process. Without the correct key or password, accessing the encrypted data would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.
It is important to note that encryption is designed to protect data, and without the proper credentials, recovering encrypted data can be challenging. It is recommended to keep the encryption key or password in a safe and secure location to ensure data recovery is possible when needed.