Recovering from RAID Array Format on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-832PXU-RP: Step-by-Step Data Recovery

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.

Are there any specific precautions to take while migrating data between NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-832PXU-RP devices?

Yes, there are a few precautions you should take while migrating data between NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-832PXU-RP devices:

1. Backup your data: Before starting the migration process, it is essential to create a backup of all your data. This ensures that you have a copy of your files in case anything goes wrong during the migration.
2. Verify compatibility: Make sure that the target NAS device (TS-832PXU-RP) is compatible with the source NAS device. Check the specifications, supported RAID configurations, and firmware versions to ensure compatibility.
3. Update firmware: Update the firmware of both the source and target NAS devices to the latest versions before starting the migration process. This helps ensure compatibility and stability during the migration.
4. Check disk health: Before migrating the data, check the health of the hard drives in the source NAS device. Replace any faulty or failing drives to prevent data loss during the migration process.
5. Plan for downtime: Migrating data between NAS devices may require some downtime, especially if you are moving a large amount of data. Plan for this downtime and inform users or clients who may be affected.
6. Ensure network stability: A stable network connection is crucial for a successful data migration. Ensure that the network infrastructure, including switches and cables, is reliable and capable of handling the data transfer speeds required for the migration.
7. Follow QNAP migration guides: QNAP provides migration guides and tools specific to their NAS devices. Follow these guides carefully to ensure a smooth and successful migration process.
8. Test the migration: Before fully committing to the migration, perform a test migration with a small subset of data to ensure everything works as expected. This helps identify any potential issues or compatibility problems before migrating the entire dataset.

By following these precautions, you can minimize the risk of data loss or other issues during the migration process.

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

Although NAS Turbo Station TS-832PXU-RP 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-832PXU-RP. 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-832PXU-RP has 8 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• 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);

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-832PXU-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.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery