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

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS3018xs 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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Synology DiskStation DS3018xs. 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 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);

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 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.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery