NAS Synology DiskStation DS713+ RAID Arrays: Data Recovery Tips Following 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 can conducting regular backups on external storage devices mitigate data loss risks for NAS Synology DiskStation DS713+ devices?

Conducting regular backups on external storage devices can mitigate data loss risks for NAS Synology DiskStation DS713+ devices in the following ways:

1. Redundancy: By regularly backing up your data on external storage devices, you create a redundant copy of your important files. In case of any data loss or hardware failure on the NAS device, you can restore the data from the external backup, ensuring minimal or no loss of data.
2. Protection against hardware failure: NAS devices can experience hardware failures, such as disk failures or power supply issues. By having regular backups on external storage devices, you can protect your data from such failures. If the NAS device encounters hardware problems, you can replace or repair it while still having access to your data through the external backup.
3. Protection against accidental deletion or user errors: Human errors can lead to accidental deletion or modification of data. With regular backups on external storage devices, you can recover the previous versions of files or restore deleted files from the backup, reducing the impact of user errors.
4. Disaster recovery: In case of a catastrophic event like fire, flood, or theft, having backups stored on external devices ensures that your data remains safe. By storing backups off-site, you can easily recover your data in the event of a disaster.
5. Version control and file history: Some backup solutions offer version control and file history features. This allows you to keep multiple versions of files and restore them to a specific point in time. In case of data corruption or accidental modifications, you can retrieve the desired version from the backup.
6. Data migration and system upgrades: Regular backups on external storage devices can also assist in data migration or system upgrades. When upgrading your NAS device or migrating to a new one, you can easily transfer the data from the backup to the new system, ensuring a seamless transition without any data loss.

It is important to regularly test the backups to ensure their integrity and verify that the restore process works correctly. Additionally, following the 3-2-1 backup strategy (having at least three copies of your data, stored on two different media, with one copy off-site) can provide an extra layer of protection against data loss risks.

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS713+ 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 DS713+. 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 DS713+ 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);
• 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 DS713+ 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