How to recover data from QNAP VS-8024U-RP NAS

Contents

• 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?
  • Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • Safe recovery from disk images
  • Where are user’s files stored?
  • Comparison of software for RAID recovery

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 recommended steps to take after detecting or suspecting data loss on a NAS QNAP VS-8024U-RP device?

If you suspect or detect data loss on a QNAP VS-8024U-RP NAS device, here are some recommended steps to take:

1. Stop all write operations: As soon as you suspect data loss, stop any further write operations to the NAS device. This helps prevent overwriting of any potentially recoverable data.
2. Check hardware and connections: Ensure that all hardware components are properly connected and functioning correctly. Check cables, power supply, and network connections to eliminate any potential hardware issues.
3. Verify data loss: Confirm that data loss has indeed occurred by checking for missing or inaccessible files and folders. This can be done by accessing the NAS device's file system or through the QNAP management interface.
4. Contact QNAP support: Reach out to QNAP support for assistance. They can provide guidance specific to your device and help troubleshoot the issue. Provide them with detailed information about the problem and any error messages you encounter.
5. Perform data recovery: If QNAP support confirms data loss and cannot assist in restoring it, you may need to consider data recovery options. QNAP provides a data recovery service, or you can seek assistance from professional data recovery specialists who specialize in NAS devices.
6. Restore from backups: If you have regular backups of your data, restore the lost files from your backup solution. This step highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date backups to minimize the impact of data loss.
7. Implement preventive measures: Once the data loss issue is resolved, take steps to prevent future incidents. This includes regular backups, implementing RAID for data redundancy, ensuring firmware and software updates are applied, and monitoring the health of your NAS device.

Remember, data recovery can be a complex and time-consuming process, so it's crucial to act promptly and seek professional help if necessary.

How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?

Although NAS VS-8024U-RP 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.

4. 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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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with QNAP VS-8024U-RP. 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.

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How to recover data from a QNAP

VS-8024U-RP has 8 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:

1. Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.

2. Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.

3. 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.

   

4. 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-8024U-RP 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