- 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 known issues or limitations when using NAS QNAP VS-12148U-RP Pro devices with virtualization platforms such as VMware or Hyper-V?
There are a few known issues and limitations when using QNAP VS-12148U-RP Pro devices with virtualization platforms such as VMware or Hyper-V. Some of these include:
- Limited hardware resources: The QNAP VS-12148U-RP Pro may have limited hardware resources compared to dedicated virtualization servers. This can impact the number of virtual machines that can be hosted and their performance.
- Limited scalability: The VS-12148U-RP Pro may have limited scalability options, such as the number of drives or expansion units that can be added. This can restrict the growth of the virtualization environment.
- Lack of advanced virtualization features: The QNAP VS-12148U-RP Pro may lack advanced virtualization features found in dedicated virtualization servers, such as live migration, high availability, or advanced networking capabilities.
- Performance limitations: The performance of the VS-12148U-RP Pro may be lower compared to dedicated virtualization servers due to hardware limitations, such as lower CPU power or limited memory capacity.
- Compatibility issues: There may be compatibility issues between the QNAP NAS firmware and the virtualization platform, especially when using the latest versions of VMware or Hyper-V. It is important to check for firmware updates and compatibility lists provided by QNAP.
- Lack of dedicated support: QNAP NAS devices are primarily designed for file storage and sharing, and may not have dedicated support for virtualization platforms. This can lead to longer resolution times for virtualization-related issues.
It is always recommended to check the official documentation, compatibility lists, and forums for specific issues and limitations when using QNAP VS-12148U-RP Pro devices with virtualization platforms.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS VS-12148U-RP Pro 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 VS-12148U-RP Pro. 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
VS-12148U-RP Pro 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);
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 VS-12148U-RP Pro 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, it is possible to recover data from a NAS device that has been infected by malware or viruses. However, the process may vary depending on the severity of the infection and the specific circumstances. Here are a few steps you can take to recover data from an infected QNAP NAS device:
Prevention is always better than cure, so it is crucial to have proper security measures in place to protect your NAS device from malware and viruses. Regularly updating the firmware, using strong passwords, enabling firewall and antivirus software, and keeping backups are some of the recommended practices to prevent such infections.