NAS QNAP NVR-104P RAID Arrays: Mechanical and Logical Failures Recovery Techniques

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.

How can hardware failure lead to data loss in NAS QNAP NVR-104P devices?

Hardware failure in NAS QNAP NVR-104P devices can lead to data loss in several ways:

1. Hard Drive Failure: The NAS device uses one or more hard drives to store data. If a hard drive fails, it can result in the loss of all the data stored on that drive. This can happen due to mechanical issues, firmware corruption, or other factors.
2. Power Supply Failure: A faulty power supply can cause sudden power surges or outages, which can result in data loss or corruption. Power supply failure can also damage other components of the NAS device, leading to further data loss.
3. RAID Controller Failure: Many NAS devices, including the QNAP NVR-104P, use RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology to improve data redundancy and performance. If the RAID controller fails, it can result in the loss of data or make it inaccessible.
4. Network Interface Card (NIC) Failure: The NIC connects the NAS device to the network, allowing data transfer. If the NIC fails, it can lead to data loss as the device may not be able to communicate with other devices or backup data.
5. Firmware or Software Corruption: Firmware or software issues can cause data corruption or loss. This can occur due to bugs, compatibility issues, or improper updates. If the firmware or software becomes corrupted, it may not be able to access or retrieve the data stored on the NAS device.
6. Overheating: NAS devices generate heat during operation, and if not properly cooled, it can lead to overheating. Overheating can cause damage to the internal components, including hard drives, which can result in data loss.

To minimize the risk of data loss due to hardware failure, it is important to regularly backup data from the NAS device to an external storage or cloud-based backup solution. Additionally, monitoring the health of the hardware components, keeping the device in a cool and ventilated environment, and ensuring firmware and software updates are performed regularly can help prevent or mitigate data loss.

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

Although NAS NVR-104P 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 NVR-104P. 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

NVR-104P has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• Q-RAID 1;

NAS supports:

• 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 NVR-104P 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