Key Features of NAS QNAP TVS-872XU Data Recovery for Home Users

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 recommended steps to take after detecting or suspecting data loss on a NAS QNAP TVS-872XU device?

If you suspect or detect data loss on a QNAP TVS-872XU NAS device, here are some recommended steps to take:

1. Stop using the NAS: As soon as you suspect data loss, stop all operations on the NAS device to prevent any further damage or overwriting of data.
2. Verify the data loss: Check if the data is actually lost or inaccessible. Ensure that the issue is not due to a network problem, misconfiguration, or user error.
3. Contact QNAP support: Reach out to QNAP support for assistance. Provide them with detailed information about the problem, any error messages received, and the steps you have taken so far.
4. Perform basic troubleshooting: QNAP support might guide you through basic troubleshooting steps to determine the cause of data loss and potential solutions.
5. Check hardware and connections: Verify that all hardware components, cables, and connections are properly connected and working. A faulty connection or hardware issue could cause data loss or inaccessibility.
6. Check storage pool and volume status: Use the QNAP management interface to check the status of your storage pool and volumes. Ensure that they are healthy and not in a degraded state.
7. Run data recovery tools: If the data loss is confirmed, QNAP support might recommend using their data recovery tools or suggest third-party data recovery software to attempt recovering the lost data. Follow their instructions carefully.
8. Restore from backup: If you have a recent backup of your data, restore it to the NAS device. This will help you recover your lost data quickly and efficiently.
9. Learn from the incident: Analyze the cause of the data loss incident and take steps to prevent it from happening again in the future. This may include implementing backup strategies, redundant storage configurations, or better data management practices.

Remember, it is crucial to seek guidance from QNAP support as they are experts in dealing with their specific devices and can provide tailored assistance based on your situation.

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

Although NAS TVS-872XU 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-872XU. 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-872XU has 8 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:

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-872XU 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