NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-h1683XU-RP RAID Arrays: Recovery Solutions for Mechanical and Logical Failures

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-h1683XU-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 regular software updates and patches enhance the security and stability of NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-h1683XU-RP devices?

Regular software updates and patches can enhance the security and stability of NAS QNAP Turbo Station TS-h1683XU-RP devices in several ways:

1. Security Vulnerability Fixes: Software updates and patches often include fixes for known security vulnerabilities. By keeping the NAS firmware up to date, you ensure that any identified security weaknesses are addressed, reducing the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, or malware attacks.
2. Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements: Updates and patches also address software bugs and stability issues that may affect the performance of the NAS device. By applying these updates, you can improve the overall stability and reliability of the system, minimizing crashes, errors, or unexpected behavior.
3. Compatibility with New Technologies: As technology evolves, new standards, protocols, or hardware components may emerge. Regular updates ensure that your NAS device remains compatible with the latest technologies, allowing you to take advantage of new features, improved performance, or enhanced security measures.
4. Security Feature Enhancements: Software updates often introduce new security features or enhancements to existing ones. These updates may include improvements in encryption algorithms, access controls, authentication mechanisms, or firewall rules. By staying up to date, you can benefit from the latest security measures and keep your data protected against evolving threats.
5. Patching Known Exploits: Cybercriminals constantly discover new vulnerabilities and develop exploits to target them. Regular updates and patches help protect against these known exploits by fixing the vulnerabilities they exploit. By promptly applying patches, you reduce the risk of falling victim to known attack vectors.
6. Compliance with Industry Standards: Some industries have specific security and privacy regulations that organizations must comply with. Regular software updates ensure that your NAS device meets the latest industry standards, helping you maintain compliance and avoid potential penalties or legal issues.

To maximize the benefits of software updates and patches, it is essential to regularly check for updates from QNAP, enable automatic update notifications, and apply the updates promptly. Additionally, it is recommended to have a backup of your data before performing any updates to mitigate any potential risks.

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

Although the NAS Turbo Station TS-h1683XU-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-h1683XU-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-h1683XU-RP has 16 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-h1683XU-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