RAID Controller Failure on NAS Synology DiskStation DS2415+: Causes, Recovery Approaches, 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 RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Synology DiskStation DS2415+ devices?

RAID configurations can significantly impact data loss in NAS Synology DiskStation DS2415+ devices. Here are a few ways RAID can affect data loss:

1. Redundancy: RAID configurations like RAID 1, RAID 5, or RAID 6 provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple disks. This redundancy helps protect against data loss in case of a disk failure. If one disk fails, the data can be rebuilt from the remaining disks. This reduces the risk of data loss due to hardware failures.
2. Hot Spare: Some RAID configurations support a hot spare disk, which acts as a standby disk that automatically replaces a failed disk in the array. This minimizes the downtime and reduces the risk of data loss during the disk replacement process.
3. Data Striping: RAID configurations like RAID 0 use data striping, where data is distributed across multiple disks to improve performance. However, RAID 0 does not provide redundancy, so if any of the disks fail, all the data on the array can be lost. It is important to note that RAID 0 should be avoided if data loss is a concern.
4. Rebuild Time: When a disk fails in a RAID array, the data from the failed disk needs to be rebuilt onto a new disk. The time taken for this rebuild process depends on the RAID configuration and the size of the disks. During the rebuild process, there is a higher risk of data loss if another disk fails. It is crucial to monitor the array and replace failed disks promptly to minimize the risk of data loss.
5. RAID Controller Failure: In some cases, the RAID controller itself can fail, leading to data loss. It is important to choose a reliable NAS device like Synology DiskStation DS2415+ that has a robust RAID controller and regular firmware updates to address any potential issues.

It is important to regularly backup data from NAS devices to an external location or use additional redundancy measures like offsite replication to further protect against data loss.

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS2415+ 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 DS2415+. 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 DS2415+ 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 DS2415+ 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