- 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?
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 RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS QNAP QVP-63A devices?
RAID configurations can have a significant impact on data loss in NAS QNAP QVP-63A devices. Here are a few ways RAID can affect data loss:
- Data redundancy: RAID configurations, such as RAID 1 or RAID 5, provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple disks. If one disk fails, the data can be recovered from the other disks. This reduces the risk of data loss due to disk failures.
- Hot spare: Some RAID configurations allow for a hot spare disk, which remains unused until another disk fails. When a failure occurs, the hot spare automatically replaces the failed disk, minimizing the downtime and reducing the risk of data loss.
- Data rebuild: When a disk fails in a RAID configuration, the data needs to be rebuilt or reconstructed on a new disk. During this process, the remaining disks are under increased stress, and if another disk fails before the rebuild completes, data loss can occur. It is crucial to monitor the RAID array and replace failed disks promptly to avoid such situations.
- RAID level selection: Different RAID levels offer varying levels of data protection and performance. For example, RAID 0 offers no redundancy and increases the risk of data loss if any disk fails. On the other hand, RAID 6 provides dual parity, allowing for the simultaneous failure of two disks without data loss. Choosing the appropriate RAID level based on your data protection needs is essential.
- Controller failure: RAID configurations rely on the RAID controller to manage the disks and ensure data integrity. If the RAID controller fails, it can lead to data loss or make it difficult to recover data from the disks. Regular backups and redundancy measures outside of the RAID configuration, such as off-site backups, can mitigate the impact of controller failures.
It is important to note that while RAID configurations can provide some level of data protection, they are not a substitute for regular backups. Backing up your data to external storage or cloud services is crucial to safeguard against accidental deletion, malware attacks, or catastrophic failures that may affect the entire NAS device.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS QVP-63A 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP QVP-63A. 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.
How to recover data from a QNAP
QVP-63A has 6 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- 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);
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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 QVP-63A 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
| Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Recovering data from a physically damaged device is challenging, and the success depends on the extent of the damage. In the case of a power surge damaging a NAS device like the QNAP QVP-63A, it is recommended to contact a professional data recovery service.
These services have specialized equipment and expertise to recover data from physically damaged devices. They can assess the damage, repair any components if possible, and attempt to retrieve the data from the device.
It is important to note that there is no guarantee of success in data recovery from physically damaged devices. The extent of the damage and the condition of the storage media will determine the chances of recovery.