- 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.
Are there any recommended practices for protecting NAS QNAP TVS-1582TU devices against physical theft or unauthorized access that can lead to data loss?
Yes, there are several recommended practices to protect your QNAP TVS-1582TU NAS device against physical theft or unauthorized access. Here are some steps you can take:
- Physical Security:
- Keep the NAS device in a secure and locked location, preferably a locked server room or cabinet.
- Use security cameras or alarms to monitor the area where the NAS is kept.
- Restrict physical access to only authorized personnel.
- Strong Passwords:
- Set strong and unique passwords for all user accounts on the NAS, including the admin account.
- Avoid using default or easily guessable passwords.
- Enable account lockout policies to prevent brute-force attacks.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
- Enable 2FA on the NAS device to provide an additional layer of security.
- This ensures that even if someone manages to obtain the password, they would still need the second factor (e.g., a mobile app or SMS code) to access the NAS.
- Firmware and Software Updates:
- Regularly update the firmware and software on the NAS device to ensure you have the latest security patches and bug fixes.
- Enable automatic updates if available.
- Network Segmentation:
- Consider placing the NAS in a separate network segment or VLAN to isolate it from other devices on your network.
- This helps prevent unauthorized access to the NAS from compromised devices.
- Firewall and Network Security:
- Enable the built-in firewall on the NAS device to restrict access to only necessary services and ports.
- Configure network security measures like IP whitelisting or blacklisting to control access.
- Data Encryption:
- Enable encryption for sensitive data stored on the NAS.
- QNAP devices often support encryption at the folder or volume level.
- Regular Backups:
- Implement a robust backup strategy to ensure that your data is regularly backed up to an off-site location or another NAS.
- This helps mitigate the risk of data loss in case of theft or unauthorized access.
- User Access Control:
- Grant access rights and privileges only to authorized users.
- Regularly review and update user permissions to ensure they align with the principle of least privilege.
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention:
- Enable intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) if supported by your NAS device.
- These systems can monitor and alert you about any suspicious activities or attempts to access the NAS.
Remember, security is a continuous process, and it's important to stay updated with the latest security practices and recommendations from QNAP.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS TVS-1582TU 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-1582TU. 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-1582TU has 15 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-1582TU 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, data recovery from a QNAP TVS-1582TU device can still be performed even if there are issues with the network router or switch. The NAS device itself stores the data on the hard drives, and the network infrastructure issues should not affect the data stored on the drives.
In such cases, you can directly connect to the NAS device using a computer or laptop, bypassing the router or switch. This can be done by connecting the computer to the NAS device using an Ethernet cable or accessing it through the direct USB connection if available.
Once connected, you can access the data on the NAS device and perform data recovery procedures if necessary.