Features to Consider When Recovering Data from NAS QNAP VS-4012U-RP Pro at Home

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP VS-4012U-RP 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.

Are there any guidelines for configuring security settings on NAS QNAP VS-4012U-RP Pro devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss?

Yes, there are several guidelines you can follow to configure security settings on a QNAP VS-4012U-RP Pro NAS device to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss. Here are some important steps to consider:

1. Change the default administrator password: Upon initial setup, change the default password for the administrator account to a strong and unique password.
2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): QNAP NAS devices support 2FA, which adds an extra layer of security. Enable this feature and use a mobile app like Google Authenticator for authentication.
3. Keep the firmware and applications up to date: Regularly check for firmware updates and security patches provided by QNAP. Apply these updates promptly to protect against known vulnerabilities.
4. Use strong passwords for user accounts: Enforce strong password policies for all user accounts, including a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using default or easily guessable passwords.
5. Limit network access: Configure firewall rules to restrict access to the NAS device from specific IP addresses or subnets. Only allow necessary ports and protocols for remote access.
6. Disable unnecessary services: Disable any unnecessary services or features that are not required for your specific use case. This reduces the potential attack surface.
7. Enable network encryption: Use protocols like HTTPS and SSL/TLS for secure communication between clients and the NAS device. Encrypting network traffic helps protect sensitive data from interception.
8. Enable network access protection: QNAP NAS devices provide features like IP blocking, account protection, and automatic blocking of IP addresses after failed login attempts. Enable these features to prevent brute-force attacks.
9. Regularly backup your data: Implement a backup strategy to regularly backup your data to an external storage device or a cloud storage service. This ensures that even if unauthorized access or data loss occurs, you can still recover your important files.
10. Educate users: Train all users on best practices for security, such as avoiding suspicious links or attachments, using strong passwords, and being cautious about granting access permissions.

It is important to note that these guidelines are not exhaustive, and it is always recommended to refer to the official QNAP documentation and consult with a security professional to ensure the best security practices for your specific environment.

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

Although the NAS VS-4012U-RP 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-4012U-RP 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-4012U-RP Pro has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• 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 VS-4012U-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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison