Best Practices for Recovering NAS Sharp N5810PRO (IX-N5810P) Data from RAID Arrays

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 Sharp 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 a NAS Sharp N5810PRO (IX-N5810P) device's caching policy impact data loss risks?

The caching policy of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the Sharp N5810PRO can impact data loss risks in a few ways:

1. Write Caching: NAS devices often use write caching to improve performance by temporarily storing data in memory before writing it to the storage drives. While this can enhance speed, it also introduces a risk of data loss if a power outage or system failure occurs before the data is written to the drives. If the caching policy prioritizes performance over data integrity, there is a higher risk of losing data in such scenarios.
2. Read Caching: NAS devices may also employ read caching to accelerate data retrieval by storing frequently accessed data in memory. However, if the caching policy is not carefully managed, there is a possibility that outdated or inconsistent data might be served from the cache instead of the actual storage drives. This can lead to data loss or data corruption if the cached data is not synchronized with the latest version on the drives.
3. Cache Failure: The caching mechanism itself can introduce risks if the cache hardware or software malfunctions. If the NAS device heavily relies on caching and the cache fails, it may result in data loss or inaccessibility of data until the cache is repaired or replaced.

To mitigate these risks, it is important to consider the following:

• Choose a NAS device that offers configurable caching policies, allowing you to prioritize data integrity over performance if necessary.
• Ensure the NAS device has a reliable power backup solution, such as a battery backup or uninterruptible power supply (UPS), to minimize the risk of data loss during power outages or system failures.
• Regularly monitor the health and functionality of the caching system to identify any potential issues before they lead to data loss.
• Implement data backup strategies, such as regular backups to an offsite location or cloud storage, to provide an additional layer of protection against data loss.

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

Although NAS N5810PRO (IX-N5810P) 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 Sharp N5810PRO (IX-N5810P). 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 Sharp

N5810PRO (IX-N5810P) has 5 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• 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:

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 Sharp N5810PRO (IX-N5810P) 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