What to Do When Your NAS QNAP TDS-16489U RAID Array Breaks: Steps to Recover Your Data

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP TDS-16489U
• 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.

Are there any guidelines for configuring security settings on NAS QNAP TDS-16489U devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss?

Yes, there are several guidelines for configuring security settings on QNAP TDS-16489U devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss. Here are some important steps to consider:

1. Change default passwords: Immediately change the default passwords for both the administrator and user accounts to strong, unique passwords. Avoid using common or easily guessable passwords.
2. Enable firewall: Enable the built-in firewall on the NAS device to restrict incoming connections and protect against unauthorized access. Configure the firewall to only allow necessary services and ports.
3. Update firmware: Regularly update the firmware of your QNAP NAS device to ensure you have the latest security patches and bug fixes. Enable automatic updates if available.
4. Enable network access restrictions: Configure the NAS device to only allow connections from trusted networks or specific IP addresses. This prevents unauthorized access from external networks.
5. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA for all user accounts to add an extra layer of security. This requires users to provide a second form of authentication, such as a code from a mobile app, in addition to their password.
6. Disable unnecessary services: Disable any unnecessary services or applications that are not being used. This reduces the attack surface and minimizes potential vulnerabilities.
7. Regularly backup data: Implement a regular backup strategy to ensure data is backed up to an external location or cloud storage. This helps mitigate potential data loss in case of a security breach or hardware failure.
8. Monitor system logs: Enable system log monitoring and review logs regularly for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts. Set up alerts or notifications for critical events.
9. User access control: Implement proper user access controls by assigning appropriate permissions and access rights to different user accounts. Only grant necessary privileges to each user.
10. Educate users: Provide security awareness training to all users of the NAS device. Teach them about best practices, such as avoiding suspicious links or email attachments, and the importance of strong passwords.

Remember, security is an ongoing process, and it's important to stay updated with the latest security practices and recommendations from QNAP.

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

Although the NAS TDS-16489U 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 TDS-16489U. 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

TDS-16489U 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 TDS-16489U 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