NAS Synology DiskStation DS1511+ RAID Arrays: Recovering Data Affected by Natural Wear

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Synology DiskStation DS1511+
• 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 Synology 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 file system corruption impact data integrity on NAS Synology DiskStation DS1511+ devices?

File system corruption on NAS Synology DiskStation DS1511+ devices can have a significant impact on data integrity. Here are some ways it can affect data:

1. Data loss: File system corruption can lead to the loss of data stored on the NAS device. Corrupted files or directories may become inaccessible or get permanently deleted. This can result in the loss of important documents, media files, or other critical data.
2. Data inconsistency: Corruption can cause inconsistencies within the data stored on the NAS device. This means that the data may become partially or incorrectly written, leading to errors or inaccuracies when accessing or using the files. This can be particularly problematic for databases or applications that rely on consistent and accurate data.
3. Data integrity checks: NAS devices like Synology DiskStation DS1511+ often have built-in mechanisms to ensure data integrity, such as checksums or RAID configurations. File system corruption can compromise these checks, making it difficult to detect or recover from errors. This can result in undetected data corruption, leading to data integrity issues that may go unnoticed until it's too late.
4. System instability: File system corruption can cause the NAS device to become unstable or crash frequently. This can disrupt normal operations, leading to data loss or corruption during the crash or subsequent recovery process. Instability can also impact the overall performance of the device, affecting data access and transfer speeds.
5. Difficulty in data recovery: If file system corruption occurs, it can make data recovery more challenging. Traditional data recovery methods may not be effective, and specialized tools or services may be required to recover the data. This can be time-consuming, expensive, and may not guarantee a complete recovery of all data.

To mitigate the impact of file system corruption on data integrity, it is crucial to regularly backup data stored on the NAS device. This way, even if corruption occurs, you can restore the data from a reliable backup source. Additionally, keeping the NAS device's firmware and software up to date, using reliable storage media, and performing regular system maintenance can help minimize the risk of file system corruption.

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

Although the NAS DiskStation DS1511+ 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 Synology DiskStation DS1511+. 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 Synology

DiskStation DS1511+ 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);

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 Synology DiskStation DS1511+ 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison