How to Recover Data from NAS QNAP HS-264 RAID Arrays: Recognizing Mechanical and Logical Failures

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 QNAP 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 known limitations or performance bottlenecks that can increase data loss risks for NAS QNAP HS-264 devices?

There are several known limitations and performance bottlenecks that can increase data loss risks for QNAP HS-264 devices:

1. Hardware failure: Like any electronic device, QNAP HS-264 devices can experience hardware failures, such as hard drive failures or power supply issues, which can result in data loss if not properly addressed.
2. RAID rebuild: If you are using a RAID configuration on your QNAP device and one of the drives fails, the device will initiate a RAID rebuild process to restore data redundancy. During this rebuild process, if another drive fails or encounters errors, it can lead to data loss.
3. Network issues: NAS devices rely on network connectivity to access and transfer data. If there are network issues, such as intermittent connectivity or high latency, it can lead to data loss or corruption during file transfers.
4. Insufficient backup strategy: Relying solely on a NAS device for data storage without implementing a proper backup strategy can increase the risk of data loss. Accidental deletions, file corruptions, or other unexpected events can result in permanent data loss without a backup in place.
5. Firmware or software bugs: Like any software-based system, QNAP NAS devices may have firmware or software bugs that can lead to data loss. It is crucial to keep the device's firmware and software up to date to minimize the risk of such issues.
6. User error: Human error, such as accidental deletions, misconfigurations, or improper handling of the device, can also result in data loss. It is important to educate users about best practices and provide proper training to minimize the risk of user-related data loss.

To mitigate these risks, it is recommended to implement a comprehensive backup strategy, regularly update firmware and software, monitor the device's health and performance, and ensure proper network connectivity and hardware maintenance.

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

Although NAS HS-264 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 QNAP HS-264. 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 QNAP

HS-264 has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 1;

NAS supports:

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

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 QNAP HS-264 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.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery