How to Recover Data from NAS Synology DiskStation DS1010+ RAID Arrays Due to Natural Component Wear

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 Synology 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 data redundancy techniques such as mirroring or replication enhance data availability and protect against loss on NAS Synology DiskStation DS1010+ devices?

Data redundancy techniques such as mirroring or replication can enhance data availability and protect against loss on NAS Synology DiskStation DS1010+ devices in the following ways:

1. Mirroring: Mirroring, also known as RAID 1, involves creating an exact copy of the data on multiple drives. In a DS1010+ device, you can configure two drives in a mirrored setup. If one drive fails, the other drive will still have a complete copy of the data, ensuring data availability and protection against loss. You can replace the failed drive and rebuild the mirror to restore redundancy.
2. Replication: Replication involves creating multiple copies of data and distributing them across different devices or locations. In a DS1010+ device, you can set up replication to another Synology NAS or a remote server. This ensures that even if the primary device fails or data is lost, you have a secondary copy available for recovery. Replication can be scheduled periodically or performed in real-time for continuous data protection.
3. High Availability (HA): The DS1010+ device supports High Availability, which involves setting up two identical NAS devices in an active-passive configuration. Both devices are synchronized, and if the primary device fails, the secondary device takes over seamlessly, ensuring uninterrupted data availability. This redundancy technique provides protection against hardware failures and enhances overall system reliability.
4. Snapshot Technology: Synology DiskStation DS1010+ devices support snapshot technology, which allows you to capture point-in-time copies of data. Snapshots can be scheduled or initiated manually, and they provide a quick and efficient way to recover data in case of accidental deletion, file corruption, or malware attacks. Snapshots can be stored on the same device or replicated to another location for added protection.

By implementing these data redundancy techniques, the DS1010+ device ensures that data is readily available, minimizes the risk of data loss, and provides options for quick recovery in case of failures or disasters.

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS1010+ 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 Synology DiskStation DS1010+. 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 Synology

DiskStation DS1010+ has 5 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR);
• RAID 6;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 10;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 0;
• Basic;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• Btrfs;
• EXT4;
• EXT3 (External Disk Only);
• FAT32 (External Disk Only);
• exFAT (External Disk Only);
• NTFS (External Disk Only);
• HFS+ (External Disk Read Only);

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 Synology DiskStation DS1010+ network-attached storage keeps DSM (DiskStation Manager) 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