Steps to Recover Data After Formatting a RAID Array on NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-983XU-RP

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-983XU-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.

What is a NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-983XU-RP (Network Attached Storage) device?

The QNAP Turbo Station TS-983XU-RP is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device manufactured by QNAP Systems. It is designed to provide centralized storage and data management for small to medium-sized businesses or home users.

The TS-983XU-RP features a rackmount form factor, making it suitable for installation in server rooms or data centers. It is powered by an Intel Xeon E processor and supports up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, offering high-performance computing capabilities.

Key features of the TS-983XU-RP include:

1. Storage Capacity: It supports up to 9 hot-swappable drive bays, allowing the installation of 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs). With the use of expansion units, the storage capacity can be further expanded.
2. RAID Support: The device supports various RAID configurations (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60), providing data redundancy and protection against drive failures.
3. Connectivity: It offers multiple network connectivity options, including four Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 10GbE SFP+ ports, enabling high-speed data transfer and seamless integration into existing network infrastructure.
4. Virtualization Support: The TS-983XU-RP is compatible with virtualization technologies such as VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft Hyper-V, allowing users to run multiple virtual machines on a single device.
5. Data Protection and Backup: It provides various data protection features, including snapshots, backup and restore options, and support for popular backup software like Acronis True Image and Symantec Backup Exec.
6. Security Features: The device offers comprehensive security features, including AES 256-bit encryption, IP blocking, and antivirus protection, ensuring data integrity and protection against potential threats.
7. Application Ecosystem: QNAP NAS devices run on the QTS operating system, which supports a wide range of applications for file sharing, multimedia streaming, surveillance, and more. The QTS App Center provides a marketplace for downloading and installing additional applications.

Overall, the QNAP Turbo Station TS-983XU-RP is a powerful and versatile NAS device that combines storage, performance, and data management features, making it suitable for businesses or individuals in need of a reliable and scalable storage solution.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-983XU-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.

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   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-983XU-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.

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How to recover data from a QNAP

Turbo Station TS-983XU-RP has 9 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-983XU-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