How to recover data from Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200 NAS

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 Seagate 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 RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200 devices?

RAID configurations in NAS Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200 devices can greatly impact data loss. Here are a few ways RAID can affect data loss in these devices:

1. Redundancy: RAID configurations, such as RAID 1 or RAID 5, provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple disks. In case one disk fails, the data can still be accessed from the remaining disks. This redundancy helps in minimizing the risk of data loss due to disk failures.
2. Data recovery: If a disk fails in a RAID configuration, the NAS device can rebuild the lost data by using the redundant information stored on other disks. This process is known as data recovery, and it helps in recovering data without any loss.
3. Improved fault tolerance: RAID configurations enhance fault tolerance by allowing the NAS device to continue functioning even if one or multiple disks fail. This ensures that data remains accessible even during disk failures, reducing the chances of data loss.
4. Performance impact: Depending on the RAID configuration, there can be a performance impact on the NAS device. For example, RAID 5 distributes data and parity information across multiple disks, which can result in slower write speeds. This performance impact can indirectly impact data loss if the device is unable to handle high workloads efficiently.
5. RAID controller failure: In some cases, the RAID controller itself can fail, leading to data loss. If the RAID controller malfunctions or becomes inaccessible, it can prevent the NAS device from accessing the data stored on the disks, resulting in potential data loss.

It is important to note that while RAID configurations can provide protection against certain types of data loss, they are not foolproof. Other factors such as human error, malware attacks, or natural disasters can still cause data loss in NAS devices. Therefore, it is recommended to have regular backups and implement additional data protection measures to minimize the risk of data loss.

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

Although NAS Black Armor STCU4000200 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 Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200. 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 Seagate

Black Armor STCU4000200 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• 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 Seagate Black Armor STCU4000200 network-attached storage keeps Seagate NAS OS 4 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