- Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
- Key Information About the NAS QNAP VS-2012 Pro
- How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
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 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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
Although the NAS VS-2012 Pro 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:
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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.
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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.
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Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.
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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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Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP VS-2012 Pro. 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.
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);
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:
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Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.
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In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.
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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.
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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 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.
RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison
| Product | Operating system | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows, Linux, MacOS | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, APFS, HFS+, Ext4, Ext3, Ext2, ReiserFS, Btrfs, VMFS, Hikvision, XFS, UFS, ZFS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 10 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | 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.