- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS Netgear ReadyNAS RN716
- How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
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 Netgear 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.
Are there any known limitations or performance issues related to specific RAID levels in NAS Netgear ReadyNAS RN716 devices?
There are some known limitations and performance issues related to specific RAID levels in Netgear ReadyNAS RN716 devices. Here are a few:
- RAID 6 Performance: RAID 6 is a more secure RAID level that can tolerate the failure of two drives simultaneously. However, it requires additional processing power to calculate the parity data, which can impact performance, especially during write operations. As a result, the write performance in RAID 6 may be slower compared to other RAID levels.
- RAID 5 Rebuild Time: When a drive fails in a RAID 5 configuration, the system needs to rebuild the data onto a new drive. The rebuild process can take a significant amount of time, especially if the array is heavily loaded or if the drives are large in capacity. During the rebuild process, the performance of the NAS may be reduced.
- RAID 0 Data Loss: RAID 0 is a striped RAID level that offers improved performance by splitting data across multiple drives. However, it does not provide any redundancy or fault tolerance. If any drive fails in a RAID 0 configuration, all data on the array will be lost. Therefore, it is important to have proper backup mechanisms in place when using RAID 0.
- RAID Expansion Time: When expanding the capacity of a RAID volume by adding new drives to the array, the ReadyNAS RN716 devices may take some time to complete the expansion process. During this time, the NAS may experience reduced performance.
It is recommended to carefully consider the specific requirements and trade-offs of each RAID level before configuring a Netgear ReadyNAS RN716 device. Additionally, it is important to regularly monitor the health of the drives and RAID arrays to ensure optimal performance and data protection.
How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS ReadyNAS RN716 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:
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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.
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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.
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Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.
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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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Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Netgear ReadyNAS RN716. 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.
How to recover data from a Netgear
ReadyNAS RN716 has 6 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;
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:
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Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.
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In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.
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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.
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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 Netgear ReadyNAS RN716 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
| Product | Operating system | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, APFS, HFS+, Ext4, Ext3, Ext2, ReiserFS, Btrfs, VMFS, Hikvision, XFS, UFS, ZFS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 10 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If the Netgear ReadyNAS RN716 device is not powering on, it may be challenging to perform data recovery directly from the device itself. However, there are still some potential options to recover the data:
It's important to note that professional data recovery services can be quite expensive, so it's recommended to weigh the value of the data against the cost of recovery before proceeding.