RAID Array Recovery on NAS QNAP ES1686dc: What to Do When It’s Not Working

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP ES1686dc
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

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 QNAP 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.

How can regular software updates and patches enhance the security and stability of NAS QNAP ES1686dc devices?

Regular software updates and patches can enhance the security and stability of NAS QNAP ES1686dc devices in the following ways:

1. Security Vulnerability Fixes: Software updates and patches often include fixes for known security vulnerabilities. By regularly updating the software on your NAS device, you ensure that any identified security flaws are addressed, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.
2. Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements: Updates and patches also address software bugs and stability issues. These fixes can help improve the overall performance and reliability of the NAS device, minimizing the chances of system crashes, data corruption, or other stability-related problems.
3. Compatibility with Newer Technologies: As technology evolves, new features and functionalities are introduced. Regular updates ensure that your NAS device remains compatible with the latest technologies, protocols, and security standards. This compatibility is crucial for maintaining the device's security posture and ensuring seamless integration with other systems.
4. Security Feature Enhancements: Updates may introduce new security features or enhancements to existing ones. These can include improvements in encryption algorithms, access controls, authentication mechanisms, or additional security options. By keeping your NAS device up to date, you can take advantage of these enhanced security features to strengthen the overall security of your data.
5. Protection Against Emerging Threats: Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and attackers are always discovering new techniques to exploit vulnerabilities. Regular updates help protect your NAS device against emerging threats by patching known vulnerabilities and implementing security measures to counter new attack vectors.
6. Compliance with Industry Standards: Many industries have specific security and compliance requirements that organizations must adhere to. Regular updates ensure that your NAS device remains compliant with the latest industry standards and regulations, providing assurance to auditors and regulators that appropriate security measures are in place.

It is essential to regularly check for updates and patches provided by QNAP for your specific NAS model and apply them promptly to ensure the security and stability of your device.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS ES1686dc 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. 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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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP ES1686dc. 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.

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How to recover data from a QNAP

ES1686dc has 16 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 10;
• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• ZFS;
• EXT4;
• EXT3;
• exFAT;
• FAT32 (External Disk Only);
• NTFS (External Disk Only);
• HFS+ (External Disk Read Only);

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:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. 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.

   

4. 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 QNAP ES1686dc network-attached storage keeps QTS (QuTS hero) 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