How to recover data from QNAP TVS-672XT NAS

Contents

• 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?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

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 specific factors to consider when choosing a NAS QNAP TVS-672XT device to minimize data loss risks?

Yes, there are several factors to consider when choosing a NAS QNAP TVS-672XT device to minimize data loss risks:

1. RAID Configuration: The TVS-672XT supports various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD. Choosing the appropriate RAID level based on your needs can provide data redundancy and protection against drive failures.
2. Backup Solutions: Look for a NAS device that offers robust backup solutions. QNAP provides features like QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS) that allows you to schedule backups to external drives, cloud storage, or remote NAS devices. Having multiple backup copies in different locations can minimize the risk of data loss.
3. Redundant Power Supply: Consider choosing a NAS with a redundant power supply option. This means the device will have two power supplies, and if one fails, the other will continue to power the NAS, reducing the risk of data loss due to power supply failure.
4. Hot-Swappable Drive Bays: Hot-swappable drive bays allow you to replace a failed drive without shutting down the NAS. This minimizes downtime and reduces the risk of data loss during drive replacement.
5. Data Scrubbing and S.M.A.R.T Monitoring: Look for a NAS device that supports data scrubbing and S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) monitoring. Data scrubbing helps to identify and repair any data inconsistencies, while S.M.A.R.T monitoring can alert you to potential drive failures before they happen.
6. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): Connecting your NAS to a UPS can protect against power outages and ensure the device remains operational during power fluctuations. This can prevent data loss due to sudden power loss or surges.
7. Network Redundancy: Consider using multiple network interfaces or link aggregation to provide network redundancy. This ensures that if one network connection fails, the NAS will still be accessible, reducing the risk of data loss due to network issues.
8. Regular Firmware Updates: Keep the NAS firmware up to date with the latest patches and updates provided by the manufacturer. This helps to address any security vulnerabilities and ensures the device operates optimally.

It is important to note that while these factors can help minimize data loss risks, they do not guarantee complete protection. Regular backups, data integrity checks, and other best practices should also be followed to ensure data safety.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS TVS-672XT 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. 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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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP TVS-672XT. 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.

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How to recover data from a QNAP

TVS-672XT 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);

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:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. 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.

   

4. 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-672XT 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