NAS Synology Diskstation DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j RAID Arrays: Data Recovery Solutions for Component Wear Issues

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.

What is a NAS Synology Diskstation DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j (Network Attached Storage) device?

The Synology DiskStation DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device manufactured by Synology Inc. NAS devices are specialized file storage systems that are connected to a network, allowing multiple users and devices to access and share files and data.

The DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j models are compact and desktop-sized NAS devices designed for home and small office use. They offer various features and capabilities, including:

1. Storage Capacity: The DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j models have a single drive bay, allowing you to install a single hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD). The storage capacity can be customized based on your needs and budget.
2. File Sharing: These devices support various file sharing protocols such as SMB, AFP, and NFS, making it easy to share files across different operating systems and devices, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
3. Data Backup: The DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j devices provide backup solutions to protect your important data. They support scheduled backups, incremental backups, and remote backup to other NAS devices or cloud storage services.
4. Multimedia Streaming: These NAS devices have built-in media server capabilities, allowing you to stream multimedia content, including videos, music, and photos, to compatible devices such as smart TVs, media players, and mobile devices.
5. Surveillance Station: The DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j models can be used as a surveillance system with their built-in Surveillance Station software. You can connect IP cameras to the NAS and use it to record, monitor, and manage your surveillance footage.
6. Mobile Apps: Synology provides a range of mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, allowing you to access and manage your NAS remotely. These apps offer features like file access, multimedia streaming, and backup management.
7. Additional Features: These NAS devices support various additional features such as remote file access, FTP server, web server, VPN server, and more. They also have a user-friendly web-based interface for easy configuration and management.

Overall, the Synology DiskStation DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j is a versatile and feature-rich NAS device that provides reliable and secure storage solutions for personal and small office environments.

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

Although NAS Diskstation DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j 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 DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j. 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 DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• Nie wspiera;

NAS supports:

• EXT3;
• FAT (External Disk Only);
• NTFS (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 DS109+ / DS109 / DS109j 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