Practical Steps for Accessing Files on a RAID Disk Without a Functioning NAS Overland Storage SnapServer DX2

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 Overland Storage also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

Are there any specific system logs or event notifications to monitor for early detection of data loss on NAS Overland Storage SnapServer DX2 devices?

Yes, there are specific system logs and event notifications that can be monitored for early detection of data loss on Overland Storage SnapServer DX2 devices. Some of the key logs and notifications to monitor include:

1. System Event Logs: These logs provide information about system events, errors, warnings, and other activities. Monitoring these logs can help identify any issues or errors that may lead to data loss.
2. Disk Health and SMART Monitoring: SnapServer DX2 devices support SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) monitoring for hard drives. Monitoring the SMART data can help detect early signs of drive failure or data loss.
3. RAID Array Health: The SnapServer DX2 devices use RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) for data protection. Monitoring the RAID array health can help identify any issues with the array, such as failed drives or degraded performance, which may result in data loss.
4. Backup and Replication Status: Monitoring the status of backups and replication jobs can help ensure that data is being properly backed up and replicated to other devices or locations. Any failures or errors in these processes can indicate potential data loss.
5. Network Connectivity and Errors: Monitoring network connectivity and errors can help identify any issues with the network connection to the SnapServer DX2 device. Network problems can lead to data loss if the device is unable to communicate with other systems or backup targets.

It is important to regularly review and monitor these logs and event notifications to detect any potential issues or errors that may result in data loss. Additionally, configuring email alerts or integrating with a centralized monitoring system can help ensure timely notifications of any critical events.

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

Although NAS SnapServer DX2 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 Overland Storage SnapServer DX2. 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 Overland Storage

SnapServer DX2 has 12 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• JBOD;
• DynamicRAID;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

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 Overland Storage SnapServer DX2 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