How to Restore Deleted NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U24 Files Effectively

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U24
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Seagate often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

How can data fragmentation impact the read and write speeds, and potential data loss on NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U24 devices?

Data fragmentation can have several impacts on read and write speeds, as well as potential data loss on NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U24 devices:

1. Read and Write Speeds: Data fragmentation refers to the scattering of data across different sectors or blocks on a storage device. When data becomes fragmented, the read and write speeds can be negatively affected. The device has to perform additional seeks and accesses to gather all the fragmented pieces of data, resulting in slower performance compared to sequential access. This can lead to increased latency and reduced overall read and write speeds on the NAS device.
2. Data Loss: Fragmentation can also increase the risk of data loss on NAS devices. If a file is fragmented, it becomes more susceptible to corruption or loss due to various factors such as disk errors, power failures, or system crashes. Since the fragmented data is spread across different locations, any issue affecting one or more of those locations can result in the loss of a portion or the entire file. Additionally, data recovery from fragmented files can be more challenging and time-consuming, increasing the chances of permanent data loss.

To mitigate the impact of data fragmentation on NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U24 devices, the following steps can be taken:

1. Regular Defragmentation: Perform regular defragmentation on the NAS device to consolidate fragmented data and optimize storage. This process rearranges the data blocks and organizes them in a contiguous manner, improving read and write speeds.
2. File System Optimization: Choose a file system that is less prone to fragmentation, such as NTFS or ext4. These file systems have built-in mechanisms to reduce fragmentation and maintain data integrity.
3. Disk Monitoring and Maintenance: Monitor the health of the NAS disks regularly and perform necessary maintenance tasks like disk checks and repairs. This helps identify and resolve any disk errors or bad sectors that can contribute to data fragmentation and potential data loss.
4. Data Backup and Redundancy: Implement a robust backup strategy by regularly backing up critical data stored on the NAS device. This ensures that even if data loss occurs due to fragmentation or other factors, a recent backup copy is available for recovery.
5. RAID Configuration: Consider using RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) for data redundancy and protection. RAID configurations like RAID 5 or RAID 6 can distribute data across multiple disks, reducing the impact of fragmentation and providing fault tolerance in case of disk failures.

By implementing these measures, the impact of data fragmentation on read and write speeds, as well as potential data loss, can be minimized on NAS Seagate Exos AP 2U24 devices.

How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS Exos AP 2U24 can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Seagate Exos AP 2U24. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were accidentally deleted from the network drive.

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How to recover data from a Seagate

Exos AP 2U24 has 24 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;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?

The Seagate Exos AP 2U24 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison