NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-328 RAID Controller Failure: Causes, Consequences, and Recovery Methods

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 the number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-328 device affect data loss risks?

The number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the QNAP Turbo Station TS-328 can affect data loss risks in the following ways:

1. Increased risk of data corruption: When multiple users access and modify files simultaneously, there is a higher chance of data corruption. If two or more users try to modify the same file at the same time, conflicts can occur, leading to data loss or inconsistent data.
2. Performance degradation: As the number of concurrent users increases, the NAS device's performance may degrade. Slow response times or delays in accessing files can lead to user frustration, which may result in accidental file deletions or improper handling of data.
3. Network congestion: Multiple users accessing the NAS device simultaneously can lead to network congestion. This congestion can affect the data transfer speed and increase the chances of data loss due to network errors or interruptions.
4. Increased vulnerability to security threats: With more users accessing the NAS device, the risk of security breaches and unauthorized access also increases. If proper security measures are not in place, malicious actors may gain access to sensitive data, leading to data loss or compromise.

To mitigate these risks, it is important to:

a. Implement user access controls: Set up user permissions and access rights to ensure that only authorized users can access specific files or folders. This helps minimize the chance of accidental deletions or unauthorized modifications.

b. Use RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology: Implement RAID configurations that provide data redundancy and fault tolerance. This helps protect against data loss in case of disk failures.

c. Regularly backup data: Implement a backup strategy to regularly back up the data on the NAS device. This ensures that even if data is lost or corrupted, a recent backup can be used to restore it.

d. Monitor and optimize performance: Keep an eye on the NAS device's performance and network utilization. If performance degradation is observed, consider upgrading hardware or optimizing network settings to ensure smooth operation.

e. Implement security measures: Use strong passwords, enable firewall settings, and keep the NAS device's firmware up to date to protect against security threats. Regularly audit and review access logs to identify any suspicious activities.

By considering these factors and implementing appropriate measures, the risks associated with data loss can be minimized even with a large number of concurrent users accessing a NAS device like the QNAP Turbo Station TS-328.

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

Although NAS Turbo Station TS-328 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.

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   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 Turbo Station TS-328. 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.

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How to recover data from a QNAP

Turbo Station TS-328 has 3 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 5;
• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• EXT4;
• EXT3;
• 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 Turbo Station TS-328 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.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery