Features of NAS QNAP TVS-671 Data Recovery in Home Conditions

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP TVS-671
• 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 a NAS QNAP TVS-671 device's caching policy impact data loss risks?

The caching policy of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like QNAP TVS-671 can impact data loss risks in the following ways:

1. Write caching: NAS devices often use write caching to improve performance by temporarily storing data in a cache before writing it to the actual storage medium. However, if a power outage or system failure occurs before the data is written to the disk, there is a risk of data loss. To mitigate this risk, NAS devices usually have mechanisms like battery backup units (BBUs) or uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to ensure that cached data is safely written to the disks during such events.
2. Read caching: Read caching involves storing frequently accessed data in a cache to speed up subsequent read operations. While read caching does not directly impact data loss risks, it can potentially lead to data inconsistency issues. If the NAS device experiences a failure or corruption in the underlying storage while relying heavily on read caching, there is a chance that the cached data may not accurately reflect the actual data on the disks. This can result in data loss or data integrity problems if the cached data is used as the primary source.
3. RAID configurations: NAS devices often support various RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations to provide data redundancy and protection against disk failures. The choice of RAID configuration impacts the data loss risks associated with the device. For example, RAID 0 offers high performance but no data redundancy, increasing the risk of data loss if a single disk fails. On the other hand, RAID 1 or RAID 5 configurations provide varying levels of data redundancy, reducing the risk of data loss in case of disk failures.

It is essential to carefully configure and monitor the caching policy and RAID settings of a NAS device to balance performance and data protection. Additionally, regular backups and implementing appropriate disaster recovery strategies can further mitigate data loss risks.

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

Although the NAS TVS-671 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.

   Go to view

   

   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 TVS-671. 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a QNAP

TVS-671 has 6 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• 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);

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 TVS-671 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