Professional Tips and Tricks for Recovering NAS Qsan XCubeSAN XS3226 Data from RAID Arrays

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.

Are there any recommended practices for off-site backup storage to prevent complete data loss in the event of a disaster?

Yes, there are several recommended practices for off-site backup storage to prevent complete data loss in the event of a disaster. Here are some of the key practices:

1. Choose a geographically distant location: Ensure that your off-site backup storage is located in a different geographical area than your primary data center. This helps to minimize the risk of both locations being affected by the same disaster.
2. Use secure and reliable facilities: Select a reputable off-site storage provider that offers secure facilities with appropriate measures like physical security, fire suppression systems, climate control, and backup power supply. Regular audits and certifications can also be considered.
3. Encrypt your data: Before sending your data to off-site storage, ensure that it is encrypted. This adds an extra layer of security and protects your data from unauthorized access.
4. Regularly test and verify backups: It is crucial to regularly test and verify the backups stored off-site to ensure their integrity and completeness. This includes performing periodic restoration tests to confirm that the backups can be successfully restored when needed.
5. Implement a robust backup strategy: Develop a comprehensive backup strategy that includes regular backups, incremental backups, and versioning. This ensures that you have multiple copies of your data stored at different points in time, reducing the risk of data loss.
6. Use multiple off-site storage locations: Consider using multiple off-site storage locations for additional redundancy. This further reduces the risk of data loss in case one location is compromised.
7. Automate backup processes: Automate the backup processes to ensure regular and consistent backups. This minimizes the chances of human error and ensures that backups are performed as scheduled.
8. Implement a disaster recovery plan: Develop a detailed disaster recovery plan that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a disaster. This should include the process of recovering data from off-site backups and restoring operations.
9. Regularly review and update the backup strategy: Technology and business requirements change over time, so it is important to regularly review and update your backup strategy to ensure it remains effective and aligned with your organization's needs.

By following these recommended practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of complete data loss in the event of a disaster.

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

Although NAS XCubeSAN XS3226 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 XS3226. 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 XS3226 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 XCubeSAN XS3226 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