Recovery Strategies for Mechanical and Logical Failures in NAS QNAP VS-2204 Pro+ RAID Arrays

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP VS-2204 Pro+
• 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 regular disk health monitoring and analysis help in preventing potential data loss on NAS QNAP VS-2204 Pro+ devices?

Regular disk health monitoring and analysis can help in preventing potential data loss on NAS QNAP VS-2204 Pro+ devices in the following ways:

1. Early detection of disk failures: By regularly monitoring the health of the disks, you can identify any signs of potential failures such as bad sectors, increased error rates, or abnormal temperature readings. This allows you to take proactive measures like replacing the failing disk before it completely fails and causes data loss.
2. RAID array maintenance: QNAP devices usually use RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection. Monitoring the disk health helps in identifying any issues with the RAID array, such as degraded or failed disks. Promptly replacing the faulty disks and rebuilding the array ensures the data remains intact and accessible.
3. SMART monitoring: Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) is a feature available on most modern hard drives. It provides detailed information about the drive's health, including attributes like temperature, read/write error rates, and spin-up time. Regularly analyzing SMART data can help in identifying potential issues and taking necessary actions to prevent data loss.
4. Scheduled disk checks: Regularly scheduling disk checks and surface scans can help in identifying and repairing any disk errors or bad sectors. This process ensures that the disks are in optimal condition and reduces the risk of data loss due to disk failures.
5. Data backup and replication: Regular disk health monitoring can remind you to regularly backup your data and set up replication to another NAS or cloud storage. This provides an additional layer of protection in case of disk failures or other unforeseen events.

Overall, regular disk health monitoring and analysis help in maintaining the reliability and performance of the NAS device, reducing the risk of data loss, and ensuring the safety of your valuable data.

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

Although the NAS VS-2204 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:

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 VS-2204 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.

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How to recover data from a QNAP

VS-2204 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:

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 VS-2204 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