- 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?
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.
Are there any known limitations or performance issues related to specific RAID levels in NAS Synology DiskStation DS509+ devices?
Yes, there are some known limitations and performance issues related to specific RAID levels in the Synology DiskStation DS509+ NAS devices.
- RAID 5 and RAID 6: These RAID levels offer data redundancy by distributing parity across multiple drives. However, they have a higher write penalty compared to RAID 0 or RAID 1. As a result, write performance may be lower, especially for small random writes. Additionally, when a drive fails in RAID 5 or RAID 6, the system needs to recalculate the parity, which can put a strain on the performance during the rebuild process.
- RAID 10: This RAID level combines mirroring and striping, offering both performance and redundancy. However, it requires a higher number of drives compared to other RAID levels. The performance of RAID 10 can be excellent for both read and write operations, but the usable capacity is limited to half of the total drive capacity due to mirroring.
- SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID): This proprietary RAID implementation by Synology allows for mixed drive sizes and offers flexibility in expanding the storage pool. However, it may have slightly lower performance compared to traditional RAID levels due to the additional overhead of managing different drive sizes.
- RAID Expansion and Migration: When expanding or migrating RAID volumes on a Synology DiskStation DS509+, the process can take a significant amount of time, especially for larger drives or volumes. During this process, the system may experience reduced performance.
It's important to note that the performance limitations and issues can vary depending on the specific hardware configuration, drive types, network environment, and workload characteristics. It is recommended to consult the official documentation or contact Synology support for detailed information specific to your DS509+ model.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS DiskStation DS509+ 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Synology DiskStation DS509+. 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.
DiskStation DS509+ 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 DS509+ 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
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 |