How to Recover Data After Formatting a RAID Array on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP

Has your NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP suddenly lost its network drive and you’re unsure what to do next? Did the RAID array collapse, making your files inaccessible? Is the device throwing errors during startup? Perhaps you accidentally rebuilt the RAID array or several hard drives failed at the same time?

How to Recover Data After Formatting a RAID Array on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP

QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP NAS Data Recovery in 2025

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to rebuild your RAID and recover data from an Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP. We’ll walk through the most common causes of failure and demonstrate proven methods to restore files from a lost or degraded RAID array.

How to Recover Data After Formatting a RAID Array on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP

RAID Recovery™ 2.8
Recover data from damaged RAID arrays inaccessible from a computer.
Download

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 guidelines for configuring security settings on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss?

Yes, there are several guidelines and best practices to configure security settings on QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss. Here are some recommendations:

  1. Keep the firmware up to date: Regularly update the firmware of your NAS device to ensure that you have the latest security patches and bug fixes.
  2. Use strong and unique passwords: Set strong passwords for the administrator and all user accounts. Avoid using easily guessable passwords and consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.
  3. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): QNAP NAS devices support 2FA, which adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step, such as a code from a mobile app or a physical token.
  4. Disable unnecessary services and ports: Review the services and ports enabled on your NAS and disable any that are not required. This reduces the attack surface and potential vulnerabilities.
  5. Enable firewall and network access restrictions: Configure the built-in firewall on the NAS and restrict access to only necessary IP addresses or subnets. This prevents unauthorized access from external networks.
  6. Utilize VPN for remote access: Instead of exposing your NAS directly to the internet, use a virtual private network (VPN) to securely access your NAS remotely. This adds an extra layer of encryption and authentication.
  7. Regularly backup your data: Implement a backup strategy to ensure that your data is regularly backed up to an external storage device or cloud storage. In case of data loss or ransomware attacks, you can restore your data from backups.
  8. Enable network encryption: QNAP NAS devices support protocols like SSL/TLS and SSH for secure communication. Enable these protocols to encrypt network traffic between the NAS and client devices.
  9. Monitor system logs and enable notifications: Regularly review the system logs of your NAS for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts. Enable notifications to receive alerts for critical events.
  10. Educate users and limit privileges: Educate all users about best security practices and restrict user privileges to only what is necessary for their roles. Limiting access rights reduces the risk of accidental or intentional data loss.

It's important to note that these guidelines are not exhaustive, and it's always recommended to consult the official documentation and security resources provided by QNAP for specific configuration instructions and updates.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-863XU-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

    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

Hetman Raid Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-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

How to recover data from a QNAP

Turbo Station TS-863XU-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.

    Hetman RAID Recovery: Image Creation Wizard
  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.

    Hetman RAID Recovery: Choose a disk or save the image via FTP

Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?

The QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-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

Product Operating system RAID controller support Supported file systems Virtual RAID controller support Data recovery from damaged RAID File preview
Hetman RAID Recovery Windows, Linux, MacOS Yes, over 100 controllers FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, APFS, HFS+, Ext4, Ext3, Ext2, ReiserFS, Btrfs, VMFS, Hikvision, XFS, UFS, ZFS Yes Yes Yes
DiskInternals RAID Recovery Windows Yes, over 10 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ No Yes Yes
R-Studio Windows, Mac, Linux Yes, over 20 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery Windows, Mac, Linux Yes, over 100 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes
EaseUS Data Recovery Windows Yes, over 20 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ No Yes Yes
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery Windows Yes, over 100 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes

Feedback

We will be happy to answer your questions!

Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 9.08.2022 12:31 #
    If you want to ask a question about data recovery, from NAS Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP, feel free to leave a comment!
Post comment
User
Leave a reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

Share

Questions and answers

  • What are the key features and functionalities of the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP that contribute to file access security?

    The NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP offers several key features and functionalities that contribute to file access security. Some of these include:

    1. AES 256-bit encryption: The NAS supports AES 256-bit encryption, ensuring that all data stored on the device is securely encrypted and protected from unauthorized access.
    2. Access control: The NAS provides comprehensive access control mechanisms, allowing administrators to set up user accounts and define their access rights to specific files and folders. This ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive data.
    3. IP access control: Administrators can set up IP access control lists to restrict access to the NAS based on specific IP addresses or IP ranges. This helps prevent unauthorized access from external networks.
    4. Secure remote access: The NAS supports secure remote access protocols such as SSL/TLS and SSH, allowing users to securely access their files from outside the local network. This ensures that data remains protected during remote access.
    5. Two-factor authentication (2FA): The NAS supports 2FA, adding an extra layer of security to user authentication. Users are required to provide a second form of verification, such as a temporary code generated by a mobile app, in addition to their password.
    6. Antivirus protection: The NAS comes with built-in antivirus software that can scan files and folders for malware and other threats. This helps prevent the spread of viruses and ensures the integrity of stored files.
    7. Snapshot protection: The NAS supports snapshot technology, which allows users to create point-in-time copies of their files and folders. This provides an additional layer of protection against accidental file modifications or deletions, ensuring data can be easily restored if needed.
    8. Data encryption and data integrity verification: The NAS supports data encryption during transmission and data integrity verification using checksums. This ensures that data remains secure during transfer and that it hasn't been tampered with.

    Overall, these features and functionalities of the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP contribute to file access security by providing encryption, access control, secure remote access, antivirus protection, snapshot protection, and data integrity verification.

  • How does the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP ensure secure file access for both local and remote users?

    The NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP ensures secure file access for both local and remote users through several mechanisms:

    1. User Authentication: The TS-863XU-RP supports various authentication methods, including local user accounts, Windows Active Directory, LDAP directory services, and third-party authentication services. This ensures that only authorized users can access the files.
    2. Access Control: The NAS provides flexible access control mechanisms, allowing administrators to set permissions and restrictions on folders and files. This ensures that users can only access the files they are authorized to access.
    3. Secure Transmission: The TS-863XU-RP supports various secure file transfer protocols, including FTP over SSL/TLS, SFTP, and HTTPS. This ensures that data transmitted between the NAS and remote users is encrypted and protected from eavesdropping and tampering.
    4. VPN Support: The NAS supports Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections, allowing remote users to securely access the files as if they were on the local network. VPN encrypts the data traffic, ensuring secure communication between the NAS and remote users.
    5. Two-Factor Authentication: The TS-863XU-RP supports two-factor authentication, adding an extra layer of security to the login process. Users can use their mobile devices or security tokens to generate one-time passwords, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
    6. Security Features: QNAP NAS devices come with built-in security features such as IP blocking, network access protection, and automatic blocking of IP addresses with multiple failed login attempts. These features help prevent unauthorized access and protect against brute-force attacks.
    7. Antivirus and Malware Protection: The TS-863XU-RP integrates antivirus and malware scanning capabilities, allowing administrators to scan files and folders for potential threats. This helps protect the NAS and the files stored on it from malicious software.

    Overall, the combination of user authentication, access control, secure transmission, VPN support, two-factor authentication, security features, and antivirus protection ensures secure file access for both local and remote users on the QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP.

  • Can you explain the role of access control lists (ACLs) and other security mechanisms in the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP for maintaining file access security?

    Access control lists (ACLs) and other security mechanisms play a crucial role in maintaining file access security in the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP. Here's an explanation of their roles:

    1. Access Control Lists (ACLs): ACLs are used to define and enforce file-level permissions on the NAS. They allow administrators to specify which users or groups have access to specific files or directories and what actions they can perform, such as read, write, execute, or delete. ACLs provide granular control over file access, allowing organizations to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data.
    2. User and Group Management: The NAS allows administrators to create and manage user accounts and groups. User accounts are associated with specific individuals, while groups are collections of users with similar access requirements. By assigning users to appropriate groups and configuring ACLs based on these groups, administrators can streamline access management and ensure consistent file access policies.
    3. Authentication and Authorization: The NAS supports various authentication mechanisms, such as local authentication, LDAP, or Active Directory integration. These mechanisms verify the identity of users attempting to access the NAS. Once authenticated, the NAS uses ACLs and user/group permissions to authorize or deny access to files and directories based on the defined access rights.
    4. Encryption and Secure Protocols: The NAS supports encryption technologies like AES-256, ensuring that data stored on the device is protected from unauthorized access. Additionally, it offers secure protocols like HTTPS, FTPS, and SFTP for secure file transfers, preventing eavesdropping or tampering during data transmission.
    5. Firewall and Network Security: The NAS includes a built-in firewall to protect against unauthorized access from external networks. Administrators can configure firewall rules to restrict access to specific IP addresses or ranges, ensuring that only trusted devices can communicate with the NAS.
    6. Audit Logs and Alerts: The NAS logs all file access activities, including successful and failed attempts. These audit logs can be reviewed to identify any suspicious or unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, administrators can configure alerts to notify them of any unusual or potentially malicious activities, allowing them to take appropriate actions promptly.

    By leveraging these security mechanisms, the QNAP Turbo Station TS-863XU-RP ensures that file access security is maintained, protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access or modifications.