Best Practices for NAS Qsan XCubeNAS XN7008RE RAID Array Data Recovery

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Qsan XCubeNAS XN7008RE
• 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 Qsan 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 Qsan XCubeNAS XN7008RE devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss?

Yes, there are several guidelines and best practices that can help you configure security settings on Qsan XCubeNAS XN7008RE devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss. Here are some recommendations:

1. Change default login credentials: Immediately change the default username and password for the administrator account. Use a strong password that includes a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Implement 2FA to add an extra layer of security to your NAS device. This requires users to provide a second form of authentication, such as a code from a mobile app or a fingerprint scan, in addition to their username and password.
3. Regularly update firmware: Keep the firmware of your NAS device up to date with the latest security patches and bug fixes. Regularly check for firmware updates on the Qsan website or through the device's management interface.
4. Disable unnecessary services: Disable any unnecessary services and protocols that are not required for your specific use case. This reduces the attack surface and minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.
5. Implement network segmentation: Separate your NAS device from other network devices by implementing network segmentation. This helps isolate it from potential threats and unauthorized access attempts.
6. Use firewall rules: Configure firewall rules on your NAS device to restrict incoming and outgoing traffic. Only allow necessary ports and protocols, and block all others to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
7. Enable access control lists (ACLs): Use ACLs to control which IP addresses or IP ranges are allowed to access the NAS device. Whitelist trusted IP addresses and block all others.
8. Regularly backup data: Implement a robust backup strategy to ensure that your data is regularly backed up to a separate location. This helps mitigate the risk of data loss due to unauthorized access or other issues.
9. Monitor and log activity: Enable logging and monitoring features on your NAS device to track and analyze any suspicious activities. Regularly review the logs to identify any potential security breaches.
10. Educate users: Provide training and education to all users of the NAS device about best practices for security. Teach them about the importance of strong passwords, avoiding phishing emails, and other common security threats.

Remember that security is an ongoing process, and it's important to regularly review and update your security settings to adapt to new threats and vulnerabilities.

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

Although the NAS XCubeNAS XN7008RE 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 Qsan XCubeNAS XN7008RE. 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 Qsan

XCubeNAS XN7008RE 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;

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 Qsan XCubeNAS XN7008RE 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison