Home NAS QNAP VSM-4000U-RP Data Recovery: Features and Options Overview

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS QNAP VSM-4000U-RP
• 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 system monitoring and alerting help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS QNAP VSM-4000U-RP devices?

Regular system monitoring and alerting can help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS QNAP VSM-4000U-RP devices in the following ways:

1. Real-time monitoring: By continuously monitoring the system, you can identify any abnormal behavior or performance issues that could potentially lead to data loss. Monitoring tools can track various metrics like CPU usage, memory usage, disk health, network traffic, and storage capacity.
2. Disk health monitoring: Regular monitoring of the disk health can help detect any signs of impending disk failure. By monitoring attributes like SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data, you can identify any potential issues with the hard drives and take proactive measures like replacing the failing disks before they fail completely and cause data loss.
3. Storage capacity monitoring: Monitoring the storage capacity of the NAS device is crucial to prevent data loss due to insufficient storage space. When the storage capacity reaches a certain threshold, alerts can be triggered to notify administrators so they can take necessary actions like adding more storage or archiving data to prevent data loss.
4. Network monitoring: Monitoring network traffic can help identify any suspicious or abnormal activities that could indicate a potential security breach or data loss event. Unusual spikes in network traffic or unauthorized access attempts can trigger alerts, allowing administrators to investigate and take appropriate actions to prevent data loss.
5. Backup status monitoring: Regularly monitoring the status of backups is essential to ensure data can be restored in case of data loss events. Monitoring tools can check the backup schedules, verify the integrity of backup files, and send alerts if any issues are detected, such as backup failures or incomplete backups.
6. Alerting and notifications: Setting up alerts and notifications for critical events like disk failures, low storage space, network anomalies, or backup failures ensures that administrators are promptly informed about potential data loss risks. Alerts can be sent via email, SMS, or integrated with centralized monitoring systems for immediate attention and action.

By implementing regular system monitoring and alerting practices, administrators can proactively identify and address potential issues that could lead to data loss on NAS QNAP VSM-4000U-RP devices, minimizing the risk of data loss and ensuring the integrity and availability of critical data.

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

Although the NAS VSM-4000U-RP 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 VSM-4000U-RP. 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

VSM-4000U-RP 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 VSM-4000U-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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison