Recovering Data After NAS Synology DiskStation DS3622xs+ RAID Controller Failure: Causes and Steps

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 quality of service (QoS) settings impact data transfer reliability on NAS Synology DiskStation DS3622xs+ devices?

Quality of Service (QoS) settings can have a significant impact on data transfer reliability on NAS Synology DiskStation DS3622xs+ devices. Here are a few ways QoS settings can affect data transfer reliability:

1. Bandwidth Allocation: QoS settings allow you to prioritize and allocate bandwidth to specific applications or services. By allocating sufficient bandwidth to data transfer processes, you can ensure that they receive the necessary resources for uninterrupted and reliable transfer.
2. Traffic Prioritization: QoS settings enable you to prioritize certain types of traffic over others. For example, you can prioritize data transfer traffic over web browsing or streaming services. By giving priority to data transfer, you can minimize the chances of interruptions or delays caused by other network activities.
3. Congestion Management: QoS settings help in managing network congestion by controlling the flow of data. They can prevent network congestion from affecting data transfer reliability by prioritizing and regulating the transfer process. This ensures that data transfer processes receive adequate resources even during periods of high network traffic.
4. Packet Prioritization: QoS settings can prioritize certain types of packets within a data transfer process. By giving higher priority to critical packets, such as those carrying important file chunks or metadata, you can ensure that they are transmitted with minimal delay and higher reliability.
5. Latency Control: QoS settings can help control network latency, which is crucial for data transfer reliability. By prioritizing data transfer traffic and minimizing latency-inducing activities, such as background downloads or uploads, you can reduce the chances of packet loss and improve overall reliability.

It's important to configure QoS settings appropriately based on your network environment and requirements. By optimizing QoS settings on your NAS Synology DiskStation DS3622xs+ device, you can ensure reliable data transfer and minimize potential disruptions or performance issues.

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS3622xs+ 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 DS3622xs+. 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 DS3622xs+ 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 DS3622xs+ 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