RAID Array Recovery on NAS QNAP TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2: What to Do When It Breaks and How to Recover

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2
• 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 conducting regular backups on external storage devices mitigate data loss risks for NAS QNAP TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2 devices?

Conducting regular backups on external storage devices can mitigate data loss risks for NAS QNAP TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2 devices in the following ways:

1. Redundancy: By regularly backing up data to external storage devices, you create redundancy. In case of data loss or hardware failure on the QNAP device, you can restore the data from the external backup, minimizing the risk of permanent data loss.
2. Protection against hardware failure: NAS devices like QNAP can experience hardware failures such as disk failures, power supply issues, or motherboard problems. Regularly backing up data to external storage devices ensures that even if the NAS hardware fails, your data remains safe and accessible.
3. Protection against accidental deletion or corruption: Human errors, accidental deletion, or data corruption can occur at any time. By having regular backups on external storage devices, you can restore the data to a previous state before the error occurred, reducing the impact of such incidents.
4. Disaster recovery: In case of a natural disaster, fire, or theft, having backups stored on external devices provides an additional layer of protection. If the QNAP NAS device is damaged or stolen, you can still recover your data from the external backup.
5. Version control and historical data: Regular backups allow you to maintain multiple versions of your data over time. This can be helpful in case you need to restore an older version of a file or recover data from a specific point in time.
6. Off-site storage: Storing backups on external devices allows you to keep a copy of your data in a different physical location. This is particularly important in the event of a localized disaster, such as a fire or flood, which could affect both the NAS device and the backup stored in the same location.

To ensure effective mitigation of data loss risks, it is recommended to follow best practices such as scheduling regular backups, verifying the integrity of backups, using reliable and secure external storage devices, and periodically testing the restoration process to ensure the backups are functional.

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

Although the NAS TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2 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.

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   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-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2. 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.

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How to recover data from a QNAP

TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2 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);

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-EC1280U-SAS-RP R2 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