- 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.
Can the use of specific data compression or deduplication techniques impact the performance and data integrity on NAS Raidon SafeTANK GT1670-BA31 devices?
Yes, the use of specific data compression or deduplication techniques can impact the performance and data integrity on NAS Raidon SafeTANK GT1670-BA31 devices.
Data compression techniques can reduce the size of the data being stored, which can lead to improved storage efficiency and reduced disk space requirements. However, the process of compressing and decompressing data can introduce additional CPU overhead, which may impact the device's overall performance. The performance impact will depend on the compression algorithm used and the hardware capabilities of the NAS device.
Deduplication techniques eliminate redundant data by storing only unique data blocks and referencing them for duplicate occurrences. This can greatly reduce storage requirements, especially for environments with a lot of duplicated data. However, deduplication can also introduce additional CPU and memory overhead, as the device needs to maintain an index of the unique data blocks. The performance impact will depend on the deduplication algorithm used and the hardware capabilities of the NAS device.
In terms of data integrity, both compression and deduplication techniques can introduce risks. Compression algorithms are designed to be lossless, meaning that the original data can be fully recovered. However, if there are any issues with the compression or decompression process, data integrity can be compromised. Similarly, deduplication techniques rely on maintaining accurate indexes and references to unique data blocks. If there are any errors or corruption in the deduplication process, data integrity can be at risk.
It is important to thoroughly test and evaluate the impact of specific data compression or deduplication techniques on the performance and data integrity of NAS Raidon SafeTANK GT1670-BA31 devices before implementing them in a production environment. Additionally, it is recommended to have proper backup and disaster recovery mechanisms in place to mitigate any potential risks to data integrity.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS SafeTANK GT1670-BA31 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 SafeTANK GT1670-BA31. 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.
SafeTANK GT1670-BA31 has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- 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 SafeTANK GT1670-BA31 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, data recovery from a NAS Raidon SafeTANK GT1670-BA31 device can still be possible even if the device is experiencing network congestion or bandwidth issues. In such cases, the data recovery process may be slower or more challenging due to the limitations imposed by the network congestion.
It is important to note that network congestion or bandwidth issues primarily affect the speed and efficiency of data transfer between the NAS device and the connected devices. However, data recovery typically involves accessing the physical storage media within the NAS device, such as hard drives or SSDs, rather than relying solely on network connectivity.
To recover data from a NAS device experiencing network congestion or bandwidth issues, it is recommended to follow these steps:
Remember to avoid further actions that may potentially overwrite or damage the data on the NAS device, such as formatting, initializing, or attempting DIY repairs, as these can complicate the recovery process.