- 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?
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 Raidon 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 Raidon InTANK iR2025 devices?
Regular data verification or checksum processes can help maintain data integrity on NAS Raidon InTANK iR2025 devices in the following ways:
- Detecting Data Corruption: Data verification processes involve comparing the data stored on the NAS device with a known checksum value. By regularly running these processes, any data corruption or bit errors can be detected. If the checksum value doesn't match, it indicates that the data has been altered or corrupted.
- Identifying Disk Failures: RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) systems like the InTANK iR2025 utilize multiple disks for data redundancy and improved performance. Regular data verification can help identify disk failures by comparing the data across all disks. If the data on one disk differs from the others, it may indicate a failing or faulty disk that needs to be replaced.
- Preventing Silent Data Corruption: Silent data corruption refers to the scenario where data gets corrupted without any immediate indication or error message. By using checksum processes, the NAS device can periodically verify the integrity of data and identify silent corruption issues. This allows for timely intervention and data restoration from backups before the corrupted data causes significant problems.
- Ensuring Data Consistency: NAS devices like the InTANK iR2025 support various data access protocols, including NFS, SMB, and iSCSI. Regular data verification processes help ensure that the data accessed through these protocols remains consistent and intact. It prevents any unauthorized modifications, accidental changes, or data tampering.
- Enhancing Data Recovery: In the event of a disk failure or data corruption, regular data verification processes can help with data recovery. By identifying the corrupted or mismatched data, it becomes easier to restore the correct data from backups or rebuild the RAID array using redundancy information.
Overall, regular data verification or checksum processes on NAS Raidon InTANK iR2025 devices help in maintaining data integrity, identifying disk failures, preventing silent data corruption, ensuring data consistency, and enhancing data recovery capabilities.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS InTANK iR2025 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Raidon InTANK iR2025. 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.
InTANK iR2025 has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- JBOD;
NAS supports:
- APFS / HFS+;
- Ext2 / Ext3 / Ext4;
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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 Raidon InTANK iR2025 network-attached storage keeps OS Linux 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
Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, there are specific troubleshooting methods that can be followed for data recovery from NAS Raidon InTANK iR2025 devices with limited functionality. Here are some steps you can take:
Remember to always backup your important data regularly to prevent data loss in case of device failures or limited functionality.