- 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?
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.
Can the use of specific data synchronization or replication mechanisms mitigate data loss risks for NAS QNAP TVS-1271U-RP devices?
Yes, the use of specific data synchronization or replication mechanisms can help mitigate data loss risks for NAS QNAP TVS-1271U-RP devices. QNAP provides several built-in features and mechanisms to ensure data protection and minimize the risk of data loss.
- RAID Configuration: The TVS-1271U-RP supports various RAID configurations (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60) that provide data redundancy and protection against drive failures. By using RAID, if one drive fails, the data can be rebuilt from the remaining drives.
- Snapshot and Versioning: QNAP NAS devices offer snapshot and versioning features, allowing users to take point-in-time snapshots of their data and restore previous versions if needed. This helps protect against accidental deletions, ransomware attacks, or data corruption.
- Remote Replication: QNAP NAS devices support remote replication, which enables users to replicate their data to another QNAP NAS or remote server. This ensures that data is stored in multiple locations, reducing the risk of data loss due to hardware failures, natural disasters, or other unforeseen events.
- Real-Time Remote Replication: QNAP NAS devices also support real-time remote replication, where changes made to files on one NAS are immediately replicated to another NAS. This ensures that data is always up to date and minimizes the risk of data loss in case of a primary NAS failure.
- Cloud Backup: QNAP NAS devices integrate with various cloud backup services, allowing users to automatically back up their data to the cloud. This provides an additional layer of protection against data loss and ensures data availability even in the event of a NAS failure.
By utilizing these data synchronization and replication mechanisms provided by QNAP, users can significantly mitigate the risks of data loss on their TVS-1271U-RP devices. However, it is important to regularly monitor and test these mechanisms to ensure they are functioning correctly and the data is adequately protected.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS TVS-1271U-RP 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP TVS-1271U-RP. 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.
How to recover data from a QNAP
TVS-1271U-RP has 12 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 50;
- RAID 60;
- RAID 6;
- RAID 5;
- 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 TVS-1271U-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.
Comparison of software for RAID recovery
| Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, there are several software tools available for data recovery from a QNAP TVS-1271U-RP NAS. Some popular options include:
It is important to note that data recovery from a NAS device can be complex and may require technical expertise. It is recommended to consult with a professional data recovery service if you are not familiar with the process. Additionally, it is crucial to stop using the NAS device immediately after data loss to prevent further data overwriting.