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

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

Although NAS XCubeSAN XS1216 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 XCubeSAN XS1216. 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

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;

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 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.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery