How to Recover Data After Formatting a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-870 / TS-870 Pro RAID Array

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 common mistakes or oversights made by users that can lead to data loss on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-870 / TS-870 Pro devices?

Yes, there are several common mistakes or oversights made by users that can lead to data loss on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-870 / TS-870 Pro devices. Some of these include:

1. Lack of regular backups: Many users fail to regularly back up their data, leaving them vulnerable to data loss in case of hardware failure, accidental deletion, or other unforeseen events.
2. Not using RAID or redundant storage: QNAP Turbo Station devices support various RAID configurations that provide data redundancy and protection against drive failures. However, some users may not set up RAID or redundant storage, making their data more susceptible to loss.
3. Insufficient security measures: Weak or nonexistent security measures can lead to unauthorized access and potential data loss. Users should ensure they have strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and keep their firmware up to date to prevent security breaches.
4. Ignoring firmware updates: QNAP regularly releases firmware updates that include bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements. Failing to update the firmware can leave the device vulnerable to known issues that could lead to data loss.
5. Mishandling or improper shutdowns: Improperly shutting down the NAS device or mishandling it while it is in operation can result in data corruption or loss. Users should follow proper shutdown procedures and handle the device with care to minimize the risk of data loss.
6. Not monitoring drive health: QNAP Turbo Station devices provide tools for monitoring drive health, such as SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology). Neglecting to monitor drive health can lead to drive failures and subsequent data loss.
7. Overloading the device: Overloading the NAS with excessive data or running resource-intensive applications can strain the device and potentially lead to data loss. Users should ensure they have adequate storage capacity and avoid overwhelming the system with excessive demands.

To minimize the risk of data loss, it is crucial for users to follow best practices such as regular backups, implementing RAID or redundant storage, maintaining strong security measures, staying updated with firmware releases, handling the device properly, monitoring drive health, and avoiding overloading the system.

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

Although NAS Turbo Station TS-870 / TS-870 Pro 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-870 / TS-870 Pro. 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-870 / TS-870 Pro 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-870 / TS-870 Pro 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