RAID Controller Failure on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-269 Pro / TS-269H / TS-269L: Recovering Data and Consequences Explained

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-269 Pro / TS-269H / TS-269L
• 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 Turbo Station TS-269 Pro / TS-269H / TS-269L device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS device can have a significant impact on data transfer and potential loss. Here are a few ways it can affect the device's performance:

1. Transfer Speed: The network throughput determines how quickly data can be transferred between the NAS device and other devices on the network. Higher throughput allows for faster data transfer, reducing the time required for backup, file sharing, or streaming media. Conversely, lower throughput can result in slower transfer speeds, leading to delays and decreased productivity.
2. Concurrent Connections: A NAS device with higher network throughput can handle a larger number of concurrent connections. This is particularly important in environments where multiple users or devices need simultaneous access to the NAS. Insufficient throughput may result in connection drops, slower response times, or even denial of service.
3. Data Loss: Inadequate network throughput can increase the likelihood of data loss during transfer. Insufficient bandwidth may cause packet loss, data corruption, or incomplete transfers, resulting in missing or corrupt files. This can be particularly problematic when transferring large files or performing backups, as any interruption in the transfer process can lead to data loss.
4. Performance Bottlenecks: If the network throughput of the NAS device is lower than the capacity of other network components (such as routers, switches, or network adapters), it can create a performance bottleneck. This means that even if the NAS device itself has high throughput, the overall data transfer speed will be limited by the slower component in the network chain.

To mitigate these issues, it is important to ensure that the NAS device's network throughput is sufficient for the intended usage scenario. This can be achieved by choosing a NAS device with higher throughput capabilities, upgrading network infrastructure components if necessary, or implementing network optimization techniques such as link aggregation or Quality of Service (QoS) settings.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-269 Pro / TS-269H / TS-269L 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 Turbo Station TS-269 Pro / TS-269H / TS-269L. 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

Turbo Station TS-269 Pro / TS-269H / TS-269L has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• EXT4;
• EXT3;
• 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 Turbo Station TS-269 Pro / TS-269H / TS-269L network-attached storage keeps QTS 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