- 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.
How can data redundancy techniques such as mirroring or replication enhance data availability and protect against loss on NAS QNAP VS-2012 Pro devices?
Data redundancy techniques such as mirroring or replication can enhance data availability and protect against loss on NAS QNAP VS-2012 Pro devices in the following ways:
- Mirroring: Mirroring, also known as RAID 1, involves creating an exact duplicate copy of data on multiple drives. In the case of a QNAP VS-2012 Pro, you can configure two drives in a mirrored setup. This ensures that if one drive fails, the other drive still contains a complete copy of all the data. This enhances data availability as the system can continue to function without interruption even if a drive fails.
- Replication: Replication involves creating multiple copies of data across different NAS devices or locations. QNAP devices support various replication methods such as RTRR (Real-Time Remote Replication) or Snapshot Replica. By replicating data to another QNAP NAS device, you create an additional copy of the data that can be accessed in case of a failure or disaster. This protects against loss and enhances availability as the replicated data can be quickly accessed and restored.
- High Availability (HA) Cluster: QNAP VS-2012 Pro devices also support High Availability clustering. In an HA cluster, two QNAP NAS devices are configured to work together as an active-passive pair. Both devices continuously synchronize data between them, ensuring that if one device fails, the other takes over seamlessly. This provides high availability and protects against data loss by ensuring uninterrupted access to data even in the event of a hardware failure.
- Snapshot Technology: QNAP NAS devices also offer snapshot technology, which allows you to take point-in-time copies of data. Snapshots provide an additional layer of protection against accidental deletion, ransomware attacks, or data corruption. If data becomes compromised, you can easily revert to a previous snapshot to restore the data to a known-good state.
By implementing these data redundancy techniques, QNAP VS-2012 Pro devices can significantly enhance data availability, protect against data loss, and ensure business continuity.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS VS-2012 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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
-
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.
Go to view
Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP VS-2012 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-2012 Pro has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 1;
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:
-
Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
-
Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
-
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.
-
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-2012 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 QNAP VS-2012 Pro device that has been affected by a virus or malware infection. However, the process may vary depending on the severity of the infection and the extent of the damage caused.
Here are some steps you can take to recover data from an infected NAS device:
Remember, prevention is always better than cure. It is crucial to regularly update the firmware and security software on your NAS device, and practice safe browsing and file sharing habits to minimize the risk of virus or malware infections.