Data Recovery After RAID Array Format on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-563: Recovery Essentials

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-563
• 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 recommended best practices for securely storing usernames and passwords on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-563 devices?

Yes, there are several recommended best practices for securely storing usernames and passwords on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-563 devices:

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): QNAP Turbo Station TS-563 supports 2FA, which adds an extra layer of security to your device. Enable 2FA for all user accounts to protect against unauthorized access.
2. Use Strong and Unique Passwords: Ensure that all user accounts on the NAS device have strong and unique passwords. Avoid using common or easily guessable passwords. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely.
3. Regularly Update Firmware: Keep the firmware of your NAS device up to date. Firmware updates often include security patches and bug fixes, which help protect against known vulnerabilities.
4. Limit Access Privileges: Grant access privileges only to the necessary users. Restrict access to sensitive data and functions to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
5. Regularly Backup Data: Regularly backup your data to an external storage device or cloud service. This ensures that even if your NAS device is compromised, you can still recover your important data.
6. Enable Network Encryption: QNAP Turbo Station TS-563 supports various network encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS. Enable these protocols to secure data transmission over the network.
7. Disable Unused Services: Disable any unnecessary services and applications on your NAS device. This reduces the attack surface and minimizes the risk of exploitation.
8. Implement Firewall Rules: Configure firewall rules on your NAS device to allow only necessary incoming and outgoing network connections. This helps protect against unauthorized access and network attacks.
9. Regularly Monitor and Audit: Monitor your NAS device for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts. Enable logging and regularly review logs to identify any potential security issues.
10. Educate Users: Educate all users about best security practices, such as avoiding phishing emails, not sharing passwords, and being cautious while accessing the NAS device remotely.

By following these best practices, you can enhance the security of your NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-563 device and protect your usernames and passwords from unauthorized access.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-563 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-563. 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-563 has 5 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 10;
• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• ZFS;
• 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-563 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