NAS Synology DiskStation DS2413+ RAID Controller Failure: Causes, Data Recovery Techniques, and Consequences

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 the number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS Synology DiskStation DS2413+ device affect data loss risks?

The number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS Synology DiskStation DS2413+ device can potentially affect data loss risks in the following ways:

1. Increased risk of hardware failure: When multiple users are accessing the NAS device simultaneously, it puts more strain on the hardware components such as the hard drives, power supply, and cooling system. This increased workload can lead to higher chances of hardware failure, which may result in data loss.
2. Network congestion and data corruption: If a large number of users are simultaneously accessing and transferring data to or from the NAS device, it can cause network congestion. Network congestion can result in data packets being dropped, corrupted, or delayed, leading to potential data loss or file corruption.
3. Accidental file deletion or modification: With more concurrent users, there is an increased likelihood of accidental file deletion or modification. If multiple users have write access to the same files or folders, there is a higher chance of conflicts and accidental overwrites, leading to data loss.
4. Insufficient system resources: The NAS device has limited system resources such as CPU, memory, and network bandwidth. If the number of concurrent users exceeds the capacity of these resources, it can lead to performance degradation, system instability, and potential data loss.

To mitigate these risks, it is essential to:

a. Ensure regular backups: Implement a robust backup strategy to regularly back up the data stored on the NAS device. This will help recover data in case of any accidental deletion, hardware failure, or other data loss incidents.

b. Monitor system resources: Keep an eye on the system resource utilization of the NAS device. If the device is consistently operating at its maximum capacity, it may be necessary to upgrade the hardware or limit the number of concurrent users to prevent data loss risks.

c. Implement access controls: Set up appropriate access controls and permissions to restrict user access to critical files and folders. This can help minimize the chances of accidental deletion or modification by unauthorized users.

d. Optimize network infrastructure: Ensure a robust and reliable network infrastructure to handle the increased traffic generated by concurrent users. This may involve using high-quality network switches, routers, and cables to minimize network congestion and reduce the risk of data loss due to network-related issues.

e. Educate users: Provide adequate training and education to users about best practices for data management, file sharing, and backup procedures. This can help reduce the likelihood of accidental data loss incidents caused by user errors.

By considering these factors and implementing appropriate measures, the risks associated with data loss can be minimized, even with a large number of concurrent users accessing a NAS Synology DiskStation DS2413+ device.

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS2413+ 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 DS2413+. 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 DS2413+ 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);

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 DS2413+ 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