Expert Steps for RAID Array Data Recovery on NAS Qsan XCubeSAN XS1216 Devices

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Qsan XCubeSAN XS1216
• 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.

How can regular data verification or checksum processes help maintain data integrity on NAS Qsan XCubeSAN XS1216 devices?

Regular data verification or checksum processes can help maintain data integrity on NAS Qsan XCubeSAN XS1216 devices in the following ways:

1. Detecting Data Corruption: Regular data verification processes involve checking the integrity of data stored on the NAS device by comparing it with a known checksum value. If the calculated checksum does not match the original value, it indicates data corruption or tampering.
2. Preventing Silent Data Corruption: Silent data corruption refers to the situation where data gets corrupted without any visible signs or error messages. By regularly verifying data integrity using checksum processes, silent data corruption can be detected and corrected before it leads to data loss or other issues.
3. Ensuring Data Consistency: NAS devices like Qsan XCubeSAN XS1216 often store large amounts of data from multiple users or applications. Regular data verification processes help ensure that the stored data remains consistent and accurate, preventing any discrepancies or inconsistencies that may occur due to hardware or software issues.
4. Early Detection of Hardware Failures: Data verification processes can help identify potential hardware failures in the NAS device. If data corruption is detected consistently in a particular area or file, it may indicate a failing hard drive or other hardware component that needs to be replaced or repaired.
5. Mitigating Data Loss Risks: By regularly verifying data integrity, organizations can reduce the risk of data loss. If data corruption is detected, appropriate measures can be taken to recover the data from backups or other redundant storage systems before it becomes irrecoverable.
6. Compliance with Data Protection Regulations: Many industries have regulations that require data integrity to be maintained. Regular data verification processes help organizations demonstrate compliance with these regulations by ensuring that data stored on Qsan XCubeSAN XS1216 devices remains intact and unaltered.

Overall, regular data verification or checksum processes provide an essential layer of protection against data corruption, hardware failures, and data loss, helping organizations maintain the integrity of their data stored on NAS Qsan XCubeSAN XS1216 devices.

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

Although the NAS XCubeSAN XS1216 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 XCubeSAN XS1216. 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

XCubeSAN XS1216 has 16 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 XCubeSAN XS1216 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