- 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?
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.
What data recovery services or software options are available for NAS Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T devices?
There are several data recovery services and software options available for NAS Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T devices. Some of the popular ones include:
- Ontrack Data Recovery: Ontrack offers professional data recovery services for various storage devices, including NAS devices like Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T. They have a team of experts who can assist in recovering lost data from the device.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: EaseUS provides data recovery software that supports NAS devices. Their Data Recovery Wizard software can help recover accidentally deleted or lost files from Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T.
- Stellar Data Recovery: Stellar offers data recovery software suitable for NAS devices. Their software supports Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T and can recover lost or deleted data from the device.
- R-Studio: R-Studio is a powerful data recovery software that supports NAS devices, including Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T. It can recover data from various file systems and supports advanced recovery options.
- DiskInternals NAS Recovery: DiskInternals provides NAS recovery software that supports Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T and other NAS devices. It can recover lost or deleted files from NAS storage.
It is important to note that data recovery success may vary depending on the severity of the data loss and the condition of the NAS device. It is recommended to consult with a professional data recovery service if the data is critical and valuable.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS XCubeNAS XN5008T 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T. 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.
XCubeNAS XN5008T has 8 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- RAID 5;
- RAID 6;
- RAID 50;
- RAID 60;
- 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 XN5008T 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
Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
It is possible to recover data from a NAS Qsan XCubeNAS XN5008T device even if the device is experiencing frequent disconnections or network errors. However, it may depend on the specific issue causing the disconnections or errors.
If the problem is related to network connectivity, you may try the following steps:
If the frequent disconnections or network errors persist and prevent you from accessing the data on the NAS device, you may need to contact Qsan support for further assistance. They may be able to provide specific troubleshooting steps or advise on data recovery options.
In extreme cases where the NAS device itself is physically damaged or experiencing hardware failures, you may need to consult a professional data recovery service. They specialize in recovering data from damaged storage devices and can help retrieve your data even in challenging situations.