Recovering Data After RAID Array Format on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-864eU: Recovery Guide

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 factors to consider when choosing a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-864eU device to minimize data loss risks?

Yes, there are several factors to consider when choosing a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-864eU device to minimize data loss risks:

1. Redundant Storage: Look for a NAS device that supports RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations. RAID provides data redundancy by distributing data across multiple drives, ensuring that even if one drive fails, your data remains intact.
2. Backup and Recovery: Check if the NAS device supports regular backups to external storage devices or cloud services. Having a backup strategy in place ensures that your data is protected in case of hardware failure or accidental deletion.
3. Power Supply and UPS Support: A reliable power supply is crucial for preventing data loss due to sudden power outages. Look for a NAS device with a redundant power supply or one that supports an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to provide backup power during outages.
4. Data Scrubbing and Self-Healing: Some NAS devices offer features like data scrubbing and self-healing, which regularly check the integrity of stored data and repair any errors or inconsistencies. These features help prevent data loss by identifying and fixing potential issues before they become critical.
5. Network Connectivity: Ensure that the NAS device has multiple network interfaces or supports link aggregation to provide network redundancy and improve performance. This helps to minimize the risk of data loss due to network failures.
6. Security Features: Look for NAS devices that offer robust security features such as data encryption, access control, and antivirus protection. These features help protect your data from unauthorized access, malware, and other security threats.
7. Scalability and Expansion Options: Consider your future storage needs and check if the NAS device supports expansion through additional drive bays or external storage devices. This allows you to easily increase storage capacity without the risk of data loss during the upgrade process.
8. Firmware Updates and Support: Regular firmware updates are essential to address security vulnerabilities and improve the overall performance and stability of the NAS device. Ensure that the manufacturer provides timely firmware updates and offers good customer support.

By considering these factors, you can choose a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-864eU device that provides the necessary features and safeguards to minimize the risks of data loss.

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

Although NAS Turbo Station TS-864eU 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-864eU. 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-864eU 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-864eU 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