How to recover data from Netgear ReadyNAS RN528X NAS

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 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 the number of drives in a NAS Netgear ReadyNAS RN528X device's RAID array impact data recovery and potential loss?

The number of drives in a NAS Netgear ReadyNAS RN528X device's RAID array can have a significant impact on data recovery and potential loss. Here are a few factors to consider:

1. Redundancy: RAID arrays are designed to provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple drives. The more drives in the array, the higher the level of redundancy. For example, a RAID 1 (mirroring) with two drives will have a complete copy of data on each drive, while a RAID 5 with four drives can tolerate the failure of one drive without data loss. So, having more drives in the array generally increases the chances of recovering data in case of drive failure.
2. Rebuild time: When a drive fails in a RAID array, the data needs to be rebuilt onto a replacement drive. The time required for this rebuild process increases with the number of drives in the array. During the rebuild process, the remaining drives are under heavy stress, and if another drive fails during this time, it can lead to data loss. So, larger RAID arrays with more drives have a longer rebuild time and a higher risk of potential data loss during the rebuild process.
3. Probability of drive failure: As the number of drives increases in a RAID array, the probability of drive failure also increases. Each drive has a certain failure rate, and with more drives, the overall failure rate of the array becomes higher. This means there is a greater chance of experiencing a drive failure, leading to potential data loss.
4. Impact of multiple drive failures: In larger RAID arrays with more drives, the risk of multiple drive failures happening simultaneously or in close succession is higher. If multiple drives fail before the failed drives are replaced and rebuilt, it can result in complete data loss. This is especially true for RAID levels with lower redundancy, such as RAID 5 or RAID 6. So, the more drives in the array, the greater the risk of multiple drive failures and potential data loss.

Overall, while having more drives in a NAS Netgear ReadyNAS RN528X device's RAID array can provide higher storage capacity and redundancy, it also increases the complexity and risk of data loss. It is crucial to have a proper backup strategy in place, regardless of the number of drives in the array, to mitigate the potential impact of drive failures and ensure data recovery options are available.

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

Although NAS ReadyNAS RN528X 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 Netgear ReadyNAS RN528X. 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 Netgear

ReadyNAS RN528X has 8 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• X-RAID;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• 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:

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 Netgear ReadyNAS RN528X 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