Best Practices for Data Recovery from a NAS Qsan XCubeNXT XN8016D RAID Array Failure

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.

How can data fragmentation impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Qsan XCubeNXT XN8016D devices?

Data fragmentation can have several impacts on data availability and potential loss on NAS Qsan XCubeNXT XN8016D devices. Here are some potential consequences:

1. Reduced Performance: Data fragmentation can lead to decreased read and write speeds on the NAS device. When data is scattered across different physical locations on the storage disks, it takes more time for the device to retrieve and process the data, resulting in slower performance.
2. Increased Disk Wear and Tear: Fragmented data requires more disk operations to access and retrieve the information. This increased disk activity can cause additional wear and tear on the storage disks, potentially leading to higher failure rates and data loss.
3. Higher Risk of Data Loss: Fragmented data is more susceptible to data loss in case of disk failures. If a disk containing fragmented data fails, the chances of losing a significant portion of data increase because the fragments may not be easily recoverable or may be spread across multiple disks.
4. Difficulty in Data Recovery: In the event of data loss or disk failure, fragmented data can make the recovery process more challenging. It may require more time and effort to piece together the scattered fragments and recover the complete data, potentially leading to longer downtime and increased risk of permanent data loss.
5. Inefficient Space Utilization: Fragmentation can lead to inefficient space utilization on the NAS device. When data is scattered across various locations, it may result in unused or partially used storage space, reducing the overall capacity of the device and potentially requiring additional disk purchases.

To mitigate these impacts, it is essential to regularly defragment the data on NAS Qsan XCubeNXT XN8016D devices. Defragmentation rearranges the fragmented data and organizes it in a more contiguous manner, improving performance, reducing disk wear, and enhancing data availability. It is recommended to schedule regular defragmentation tasks to maintain optimal performance and minimize the risk of data loss.

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

Although NAS XCubeNXT XN8016D 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 XCubeNXT XN8016D. 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

XCubeNXT XN8016D has 26 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:

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 XCubeNXT XN8016D 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