How to recover data from Seagate Exos AP 2U12 NAS

Is your network drive gone, and you are wondering what to do? Has a RAID system crashed, and your files are no longer accessible? Does your device display an error while booting? Have you accidentally rebuilt your RAID system? Are several hard disks out of order?

How to recover data from NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12

Seagate Exos AP 2U12 NAS Data Recovery in 2024

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to rebuild your RAID and recover data from Exos AP 2U12.

How to recover data from NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12

Recover data from damaged RAID arrays inaccessible from a computer.

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.

Can excessive drive spin-down or power-saving settings impact data retrieval in case of failure on NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 devices?

Excessive drive spin-down or power-saving settings can potentially impact data retrieval in case of a failure on NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 devices. When drives are set to spin down frequently or have aggressive power-saving settings enabled, it can result in longer access times when retrieving data. This delay in accessing the drives can affect the overall performance of the NAS and may impact the ability to retrieve data in a timely manner, especially during critical situations such as drive failures.

Additionally, if a drive fails while it is spun down or in a power-saving state, it may take longer for the NAS to detect the failure and initiate the necessary recovery procedures. This delay can further increase the time it takes to retrieve data and potentially impact the success of data recovery efforts.

To ensure optimal data retrieval and minimize potential issues during failures, it is recommended to configure drive spin-down and power-saving settings appropriately. It is important to strike a balance between power-saving measures and the need for timely access to data, especially in critical scenarios.

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

Although NAS Exos AP 2U12 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.

    Go to view
    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

Hetman Raid Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Seagate Exos AP 2U12. 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.

Go to view
How to recover data from a Seagate

How to recover data from a Seagate

Exos AP 2U12 has 12 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 ToolsSave 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.

    Hetman Raid Recovery: Image Creation Wizard
  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.

    Hetman Raid Recovery: hoose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP

Where are user’s files stored?

The Seagate Exos AP 2U12 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

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Comments (3)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 9.08.2022 12:31 #
    If you want to ask a question about data recovery, from NAS Exos AP 2U12, feel free to leave a comment!
  • Blake Manly
    Blake Manly 22.08.2023 21:45 #
    Is it possible to recover data from a NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 device if the device is experiencing frequent disconnections or network errors?
    • Hetman Software
      Hetman Software 22.08.2023 22:59 #

      Yes, it is possible to recover data from a NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 device even if the device is experiencing frequent disconnections or network errors. However, the process may vary depending on the specific issue and the severity of the errors.

      Here are a few steps you can try to recover data:

      1. Check network connections: Ensure that all network cables are securely connected and there are no loose connections. If possible, try using a different network cable or port to rule out any network-related issues.
      2. Restart the NAS device: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary network errors. Power off the NAS device, wait for a few minutes, and then power it back on.
      3. Update firmware: Check if there are any firmware updates available for your NAS device. Updating the firmware can often fix bugs and improve overall performance.
      4. Check for disk errors: If the frequent disconnections are due to disk errors, you can try running disk diagnostic tools provided by Seagate or third-party software to check the health of the drives. If errors are detected, you may need to replace the faulty drives.
      5. Seek professional help: If the above steps do not resolve the issue or if you are not comfortable troubleshooting on your own, it is advisable to seek professional assistance from data recovery services. They have specialized tools and expertise to recover data from faulty NAS devices.

      Remember to always have a backup of your important data to avoid data loss situations.

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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What are the virtualization features offered by the NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12?

    The NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 offers the following virtualization features:

    1. Virtualization Support: The NAS supports virtualization technologies like VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer. It can be integrated into existing virtualized environments and used as a storage solution.
    2. Virtual Machine (VM) Management: The NAS allows you to create and manage virtual machines directly from its interface. You can allocate resources, configure networking, and control the VMs' behavior.
    3. Snapshot and Cloning: The NAS supports snapshot and cloning functionality for virtual machines. You can take snapshots of VMs at specific points in time, allowing you to revert back to those states if needed. Cloning enables you to create identical copies of VMs for testing or deployment purposes.
    4. High Availability (HA): The NAS supports high availability configurations, ensuring that virtual machines remain operational even in the event of hardware failures. HA features like failover and redundancy provide continuous access to VMs.
    5. Storage Virtualization: The NAS supports storage virtualization technologies like iSCSI and Fibre Channel, allowing you to create virtual storage pools and present them to virtualized environments. This enables efficient utilization of storage resources and simplifies management.
    6. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Support: The NAS is capable of hosting virtual desktops for VDI deployments. It can provide the necessary storage capacity and performance to support multiple virtual desktops simultaneously.
    7. Virtualization Management Tools: The NAS comes with management tools that integrate with popular virtualization platforms. These tools provide a centralized interface to monitor and manage virtual machines, storage resources, and other virtualization-related settings.

    Overall, the NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 offers comprehensive virtualization features, making it suitable for virtualized environments and providing efficient storage management for virtual machines.

  • How does the NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 enhance virtualization capabilities for businesses?

    The NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 enhances virtualization capabilities for businesses in several ways:

    1. High Storage Capacity: The Exos AP 2U12 offers a large storage capacity, allowing businesses to store and manage a significant amount of virtual machines (VMs) and their associated data. This ensures that businesses have ample space to create and run multiple VMs simultaneously, enabling efficient virtualization.
    2. Scalability: The NAS is designed to be highly scalable, allowing businesses to easily expand their virtualization infrastructure as their needs grow. It supports additional drives and can be seamlessly integrated into existing virtualization environments, ensuring flexibility and adaptability.
    3. Performance: The Exos AP 2U12 is optimized for high-performance virtualization workloads. It utilizes advanced technologies like RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) to provide data redundancy and improve performance. This ensures that businesses can run resource-intensive applications and processes on their virtual machines without experiencing significant performance degradation.
    4. Data Protection: Virtualization environments require robust data protection mechanisms. The NAS offers various features like data encryption, snapshotting, and built-in backup capabilities to safeguard critical VMs and their data. This enhances data security and ensures business continuity in case of any unforeseen events or disasters.
    5. Management and Monitoring: The Exos AP 2U12 comes with comprehensive management and monitoring tools, allowing businesses to efficiently manage their virtualization resources. These tools provide insights into resource utilization, performance monitoring, and proactive alerting, enabling businesses to optimize their virtualization infrastructure and ensure smooth operations.

    Overall, the NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 enhances virtualization capabilities for businesses by providing high storage capacity, scalability, performance optimization, data protection, and efficient management tools. These features contribute to improved efficiency, flexibility, and reliability of virtualization environments, thereby benefiting businesses in various industries.

  • Can you provide specific examples of virtualization features in the NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U12 and how they benefit virtualized environments?

    The Seagate Exos AP 2U12 NAS offers several virtualization features that benefit virtualized environments. Here are some specific examples:

    1. Virtual Machine (VM) Support: The NAS has built-in support for hosting virtual machines, allowing you to run multiple operating systems or applications on a single physical server. This feature enables better resource utilization, consolidation, and flexibility in managing virtualized environments.
    2. High Capacity and Scalability: The Exos AP 2U12 NAS supports up to 12 drive bays, allowing you to easily scale up storage capacity as your virtualized environment grows. This high capacity is crucial for accommodating the storage requirements of numerous virtual machines and their associated data.
    3. RAID Support: The NAS supports various RAID levels (such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10), which enhance data protection and availability in virtualized environments. RAID configurations ensure data redundancy, minimize downtime, and improve overall system performance.
    4. Snapshot and Replication: The NAS provides snapshot and replication capabilities, allowing you to create point-in-time copies of virtual machines or data volumes. This feature is beneficial for backup, disaster recovery, and testing purposes in virtualized environments, as it enables quick recovery and efficient data management.
    5. Virtual LAN (VLAN) Support: The Exos AP 2U12 NAS supports VLANs, which enable network segmentation and isolation within virtualized environments. VLANs enhance security, performance, and manageability by logically separating virtual machines and their associated network traffic.
    6. Virtualization Management Software Integration: The NAS is compatible with various virtualization management software solutions, such as VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V. Integration with these platforms allows for centralized management, monitoring, and provisioning of virtual machines, simplifying administration tasks in virtualized environments.
    7. Multi-Protocol Support: The NAS supports multiple file protocols like NFS, SMB/CIFS, and iSCSI, making it versatile for virtualized environments with different requirements. This flexibility enables seamless integration with various virtualization platforms and ensures smooth data access and storage for virtual machines.

    These virtualization features of the Seagate Exos AP 2U12 NAS contribute to improved performance, scalability, data protection, and ease of management in virtualized environments.

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