Home NAS QNAP TL-R1200S-RP Data Recovery: Essential Features Explained

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP TL-R1200S-RP
• 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.

How can a NAS QNAP TL-R1200S-RP device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a QNAP TL-R1200S-RP NAS device can significantly impact data transfer and potential loss in the following ways:

1. Data Transfer Speed: The network throughput or bandwidth capacity determines the maximum speed at which data can be transferred between the NAS device and other network devices. Higher network throughput allows for faster data transfer, reducing the time required to complete file transfers, backups, or other operations. Conversely, lower network throughput can result in slower data transfer speeds, leading to delays and increased transfer times.
2. Concurrent Users: The network throughput capacity also affects the number of concurrent users or devices that can access the NAS device simultaneously without experiencing performance degradation. If the network throughput is limited, multiple users accessing the NAS simultaneously may experience slower data transfer speeds, affecting their productivity.
3. Potential Data Loss: Insufficient network throughput can lead to data loss or corruption during data transfers. When the network is congested or the bandwidth capacity is exceeded, data packets may be dropped or delayed, resulting in incomplete or corrupted files. This can be particularly problematic for critical data transfers or backup operations, where any loss or corruption can have severe consequences.
4. Streaming and Media Applications: The network throughput capacity is crucial for streaming media or running media applications from the NAS device. High-definition video streaming, for example, requires a significant amount of bandwidth. If the network throughput is limited, it may result in buffering, stuttering, or degraded video quality.
5. Remote Access and Cloud Services: NAS devices often provide remote access and cloud services, allowing users to access their data from anywhere. Insufficient network throughput can impact the performance of these services, causing slower response times, delays in accessing files, or even disconnections.

To mitigate the impact of network throughput limitations, it is recommended to:

• Ensure the NAS device is connected to a network infrastructure that supports high-speed data transfer, such as Gigabit Ethernet or faster.
• Optimize the network configuration, including using quality network cables, minimizing network congestion, and avoiding network bottlenecks.
• Prioritize critical data transfers or applications to ensure they receive sufficient bandwidth.
• Consider upgrading the network infrastructure or NAS device to a model with higher network throughput capacity if the existing setup is consistently causing performance issues or data loss.

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

Although the NAS TL-R1200S-RP 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.

   Go to view

   

   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 TL-R1200S-RP. 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a QNAP

TL-R1200S-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);

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 TL-R1200S-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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison