How to recover data from QNAP REXP-1220U-RP NAS

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 data fragmentation impact data availability and potential loss on NAS QNAP REXP-1220U-RP devices?

Data fragmentation can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss on NAS QNAP REXP-1220U-RP devices. Here's how:

1. Reduced Performance: Fragmented data leads to scattered storage blocks across the disks, resulting in slower read and write operations. This can cause performance degradation and increased latency, affecting data availability.
2. Increased Disk Wear: Fragmentation requires additional disk head movements to access scattered data blocks, leading to increased wear and tear on the hard drives. This can result in higher chances of disk failure and potential data loss.
3. Limited Storage Capacity: Fragmentation can consume more storage space than necessary. When files are fragmented, free space is scattered across the disks, making it difficult to efficiently utilize the available storage capacity. This can lead to premature storage capacity exhaustion and affect data availability.
4. Difficulty in Data Recovery: In case of data loss or disk failure, fragmented data can complicate the data recovery process. The scattered nature of the fragmented data makes it harder to recover files and may require specialized recovery tools or services.
5. Increased Backup Time: Fragmented data can significantly increase the time required for backups. The backup process needs to read scattered data blocks, resulting in longer backup windows. This can impact data availability during the backup process and increase the risk of data loss if backups are not completed regularly.

To mitigate these issues, it is important to regularly defragment the storage drives on NAS QNAP REXP-1220U-RP devices. Defragmentation rearranges the fragmented data blocks, improving performance, reducing disk wear, optimizing storage capacity, and simplifying data recovery processes. Additionally, implementing a regular backup strategy and monitoring disk health can help ensure data availability and minimize potential loss.

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

Although NAS REXP-1220U-RP 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.

   Go to view

   

   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 REXP-1220U-RP. 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a QNAP

REXP-1220U-RP has 12 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);

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 REXP-1220U-RP 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