Recovering Data After RAID Array Format on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-859U-RP+: What You Need to Know

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-859U-RP+
• 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-859U-RP+ device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the QNAP Turbo Station TS-859U-RP+ can significantly impact data transfer and potential loss in the following ways:

1. Transfer Speed: A higher network throughput allows for faster data transfer speeds between the NAS device and connected devices on the network. This means that larger files or a higher volume of data can be transferred in a shorter amount of time, increasing overall efficiency and productivity.
2. Concurrent Connections: The network throughput capacity determines the number of concurrent connections the NAS device can handle. If the device has limited bandwidth capacity, it may struggle to support multiple users or devices simultaneously accessing or transferring data. This can result in slower transfer speeds, increased latency, and potential data loss due to network congestion.
3. Data Loss Prevention: Insufficient network throughput can lead to data loss during transfer. If the network connection is unstable or experiences frequent interruptions, data packets may be lost or corrupted during transmission. This can result in incomplete files, data inconsistencies, or even complete loss of data if the transfer is interrupted before completion.
4. Backup and Recovery: NAS devices are commonly used for data backup and recovery purposes. A higher network throughput allows for faster backups and restores, reducing the time required for data protection and disaster recovery. Insufficient bandwidth capacity can lead to delays in backup processes, leaving data vulnerable to potential loss in case of system failures or data corruption.
5. Remote Access and Collaboration: Many NAS devices offer remote access capabilities, allowing users to access and collaborate on files from anywhere. A higher network throughput ensures smoother remote access experiences, enabling faster file transfers and real-time collaboration. Limited bandwidth can result in slow response times, laggy file access, and hindered collaboration, affecting productivity and potentially causing data loss due to synchronization issues.

To mitigate potential data transfer issues and loss, it is crucial to ensure that the NAS device's network throughput matches the requirements of the network environment, considering the number of users, types of data being transferred, and the desired transfer speeds. Regular monitoring and maintenance of the network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and cables, can also help optimize the network throughput and minimize data transfer-related problems.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-859U-RP+ 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.

   Go to view

   

   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-859U-RP+. 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a QNAP

Turbo Station TS-859U-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);

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-859U-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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison