Essential Best Practices for Data Recovery from a Failed NAS Qsan XCubeNAS XN3002T RAID Array

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 Qsan 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 known limitations or performance bottlenecks that can increase data loss risks for NAS Qsan XCubeNAS XN3002T devices?

There are several known limitations and performance bottlenecks that can potentially increase data loss risks for NAS Qsan XCubeNAS XN3002T devices. These include:

1. Hardware failures: Like any other storage device, the Qsan XCubeNAS XN3002T is susceptible to hardware failures such as hard drive failures, power supply issues, or motherboard failures. These failures can lead to data loss if proper redundancy and backup measures are not in place.
2. Network issues: NAS devices rely on network connectivity to access and transfer data. Network issues such as intermittent connectivity, network congestion, or router/firewall misconfigurations can result in data loss or corruption during data transfers.
3. Insufficient backup and redundancy: If proper backup and redundancy measures are not in place, data loss risks are significantly increased. It is essential to regularly back up data from the NAS device to an off-site location or utilize RAID configurations to provide redundancy and protect against drive failures.
4. Performance limitations: The performance of the Qsan XCubeNAS XN3002T device can be limited by factors such as the CPU, RAM, or network interface. If the device is underpowered for the workload or experiences high demand, it may struggle to handle data transfers efficiently, potentially leading to data loss or corruption.
5. Software bugs or vulnerabilities: Like any software-based system, NAS devices can be susceptible to software bugs or vulnerabilities. These can potentially lead to data loss or unauthorized access if not promptly addressed through firmware updates and security patches.

To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to implement proper backup and redundancy strategies, regularly monitor the health of the NAS device and its components, ensure a stable and reliable network infrastructure, and keep the device's firmware up to date.

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

Although NAS XCubeNAS XN3002T 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 Qsan XCubeNAS XN3002T. 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 Qsan

XCubeNAS XN3002T has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

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 Qsan XCubeNAS XN3002T network-attached storage keeps SANOS 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