RAID Controller Failure on NAS Synology DiskStation DS2411+: Recovery Strategies and Consequences Explained

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Synology DiskStation DS2411+
• 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 the number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS Synology DiskStation DS2411+ device affect data loss risks?

The number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS Synology DiskStation DS2411+ device can affect data loss risks in the following ways:

1. Increased risk of hardware failure: With more users accessing the device simultaneously, the hardware components such as hard drives, power supply, or cooling fans may experience higher stress levels. This increased workload can lead to a higher chance of hardware failure, which can result in data loss.
2. Higher probability of accidental deletion: More users accessing the NAS device means a higher probability of accidental deletion or modification of files. This can happen due to human error or conflicts when multiple users are working on the same files simultaneously. If proper backup and versioning mechanisms are not in place, data loss can occur.
3. Network congestion and data corruption: When multiple users access the NAS device simultaneously, it can cause network congestion and increased data traffic. This congestion can lead to data corruption if the network infrastructure or the NAS device itself is not capable of handling the increased load. Data corruption can result in the loss of files or the inability to access them.
4. Lack of resource availability: The DS2411+ device has a finite amount of system resources such as CPU, RAM, and network bandwidth. If the number of concurrent users exceeds the device's capacity, it may lead to resource exhaustion. This can result in slow performance, unresponsiveness, or even system crashes, which can potentially cause data loss or corruption.

To mitigate these risks, it is important to:

1. Regularly back up data: Implement a robust backup strategy to ensure that critical data is regularly backed up to an external storage device or cloud storage. This will help in recovering data in case of accidental deletion, hardware failure, or data corruption.
2. Implement access controls and permissions: Set up appropriate access controls and user permissions to restrict unauthorized access and minimize the risk of accidental deletion or modification of files.
3. Monitor system performance: Keep a close eye on system performance metrics such as CPU usage, RAM utilization, and network traffic. This will help identify any resource bottlenecks or performance issues that may lead to data loss risks.
4. Consider load balancing and scalability: If the number of concurrent users is consistently high, consider load balancing techniques or upgrading to a higher-capacity NAS device to distribute the workload and ensure optimal performance.
5. Educate users: Provide proper training and guidelines to users on best practices for accessing and managing files on the NAS device. This will help minimize the chances of accidental data loss due to user errors.

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

Although the NAS DiskStation DS2411+ 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 DS2411+. 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 DS2411+ has 12 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 DS2411+ 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