Recovering from RAID Array Format on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-853U-RP: Steps for 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.

How can data be recovered from a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-853U-RP device after a malfunction or data loss event?

To recover data from a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-853U-RP device after a malfunction or data loss event, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the cause of the malfunction: Determine if the issue is due to a hardware failure, software corruption, or accidental data deletion. This will help you choose the appropriate recovery method.
2. Contact technical support: Reach out to QNAP technical support for assistance. They may be able to guide you through the recovery process or provide specific instructions based on the issue you are facing.
3. Check the device status: If the device is still accessible and functional, log in to the QNAP web interface and check the device status. Look for any error messages or warnings that could indicate the cause of the data loss.
4. Restore from backups: If you have regular backups of your data, you can restore the lost files from these backups. QNAP NAS devices often have built-in backup features that allow you to schedule regular backups to external storage or cloud services.
5. Use data recovery software: If the data loss is due to accidental deletion or software corruption, you can try using data recovery software. Connect the NAS drives to a computer and use a reliable data recovery tool specifically designed for NAS devices. These tools can scan the drives for deleted or lost files and help you recover them.
6. Contact professional data recovery services: If the data loss is due to a hardware failure, such as a failed drive or RAID array, it is recommended to contact professional data recovery services. These experts have specialized tools and techniques to recover data from faulty NAS devices. However, keep in mind that professional data recovery services can be expensive.
7. Prevent further data loss: After recovering the data or during the recovery process, it is crucial to prevent further data loss. Ensure you have a reliable backup strategy in place, regularly update the firmware of your NAS device, and take necessary precautions to protect your data from future incidents.

Note: It is always recommended to consult with QNAP technical support or a professional data recovery service before attempting any recovery methods to avoid further data damage or loss.

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

Although NAS Turbo Station TS-853U-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-853U-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-853U-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-853U-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