How to Recover Data from NAS Synology DiskStation DS712+ RAID Arrays: Tips for Component Wear Recovery

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 regular disk health monitoring and analysis help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Synology DiskStation DS712+ devices?

Regular disk health monitoring and analysis can help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Synology DiskStation DS712+ devices in the following ways:

1. Early detection of disk failures: Disk health monitoring tools can constantly monitor the status of the disks in the DS712+ device. They can alert you to any signs of potential disk failures, such as bad sectors, high temperatures, or abnormal noise. By detecting these issues early, you can take proactive measures to replace the failing disk before it completely fails and causes data loss.
2. SMART monitoring: The DS712+ device supports Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART), which is a feature built into most modern hard drives. SMART attributes provide detailed information about the health and performance of the disks. Regular monitoring and analysis of SMART attributes can help identify any abnormalities or warning signs that indicate a potential disk failure.
3. RAID array monitoring: The DS712+ supports various RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection. Disk health monitoring tools can monitor the status of the RAID array and alert you to any issues, such as degraded arrays, failed disks, or rebuilding processes. By addressing these issues promptly, you can prevent data loss and ensure the integrity of your storage system.
4. Disk usage analysis: Regular analysis of disk usage can help identify potential issues that can lead to data loss. For example, if a disk is running out of space, it can cause data corruption or prevent proper functioning of the NAS device. By monitoring disk usage and taking appropriate actions, such as expanding storage capacity or moving data to other disks, you can prevent data loss due to disk space issues.
5. Backup monitoring: In addition to monitoring the health of the disks, it is essential to monitor the status of your backups. Regularly check the backup schedules, verify the integrity of backup files, and ensure that the backups are running successfully. Monitoring backups can help identify any failures or issues that may prevent successful data recovery in case of a disk failure or other data loss events.

By regularly monitoring and analyzing the disk health, SMART attributes, RAID arrays, disk usage, and backups, you can proactively identify and address potential issues before they result in data loss. This helps ensure the reliability, availability, and integrity of your data on NAS Synology DiskStation DS712+ devices.

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS712+ 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 DS712+. 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 DS712+ has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR);
• RAID 1;
• RAID 0;
• Basic;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• EXT4;
• EXT3 (External Disk Only);
• FAT32 (External Disk Only);
• exFAT32 (External Disk Only);
• NTFS (External Disk Only);
• HFS+ (External Disk 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 DS712+ 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