Data Recovery from NAS Synology DiskStation DS3018xs RAID Arrays Affected by Natural Component Wear

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Synology DiskStation DS3018xs
• 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 does a NAS Synology DiskStation DS3018xs device store and manage data?

The Synology DiskStation DS3018xs is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device that is designed to store and manage data. Here is how it works:

1. Storage: The DS3018xs comes with multiple drive bays where you can install hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs). It supports various RAID configurations, allowing you to combine multiple drives for increased data redundancy and performance.
2. File System: The device uses Synology's DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, which provides a user-friendly interface for managing the NAS. DSM uses the Btrfs file system by default, which offers advanced features like data checksums, snapshots, and file system compression.
3. Data Management: The DS3018xs allows you to create shared folders, which can be accessed by multiple users or devices on the network. You can set permissions and access rights for each folder, ensuring secure data management. Additionally, the NAS supports various file protocols like SMB, AFP, NFS, and FTP, enabling seamless file sharing across different platforms.
4. Data Protection: The DS3018xs offers various data protection features. It supports regular backups to external drives or other NAS devices, ensuring data redundancy. The NAS also provides built-in data protection mechanisms like RAID, which can protect against drive failures. Additionally, you can enable the Snapshot feature to take point-in-time copies of your data, allowing you to recover previous versions or restore accidentally deleted files.
5. Data Access: The DS3018xs allows you to access your data remotely through Synology's mobile apps or web interface. This enables you to view and manage your files from anywhere with an internet connection. The NAS also supports features like cloud synchronization, allowing you to sync your data with popular cloud storage services for additional backup and accessibility.
6. Additional Features: The DS3018xs offers a wide range of additional features, including multimedia streaming, surveillance camera integration, virtualization support, and more. These features enhance the functionality and versatility of the NAS, making it suitable for various applications and use cases.

Overall, the Synology DiskStation DS3018xs efficiently stores and manages data by providing a robust storage infrastructure, advanced file system, data protection mechanisms, and convenient access options.

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

Although the NAS DiskStation DS3018xs 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 DS3018xs. 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 DS3018xs has 6 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 DS3018xs 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