NAS Synology DiskStation DS716+II / DS716+ RAID Arrays: Data Recovery Techniques 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.

Are there any recommended steps to take after detecting or suspecting data loss on a NAS Synology DiskStation DS716+II / DS716+ device?

If you suspect or detect data loss on a Synology DiskStation DS716+II or DS716+ NAS device, here are some recommended steps to take:

1. Stop using the device: As soon as you notice data loss, it is crucial to stop using the device immediately. Continued use may overwrite the lost data, making recovery more difficult or even impossible.
2. Identify the cause: Try to determine the cause of the data loss. It could be due to hardware failure, accidental deletion, malware, or other reasons. Understanding the cause can help in formulating a recovery plan.
3. Check hardware connections: Ensure that all cables and connections between the NAS device and other components are secure. Loose or faulty connections can lead to data loss or corruption.
4. Restart the device: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve minor issues. Power off the NAS device, wait for a few seconds, and then power it back on. Check if the lost data reappears after the restart.
5. Check disk health: Log in to the DiskStation Manager (DSM) web interface and navigate to the Storage Manager. Check the health status of the hard drives in the NAS. If any drive is marked as degraded or failed, it might be the cause of data loss. Replace the faulty drive(s) following the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Restore from backup: If you have a recent backup of your data, restore it to the NAS device. Synology NAS devices have built-in backup features that allow you to create scheduled backups to external drives, cloud storage, or other NAS devices. Refer to the Synology documentation for instructions on how to restore data from backups.
7. Use data recovery software: If you don't have a backup or the backup is outdated, you can try using data recovery software specifically designed for NAS devices. Synology offers its own software called "Synology Data Recovery" that can help recover lost data from Synology NAS devices. Follow the instructions provided by Synology for using the software.
8. Contact Synology support: If you are unable to recover the lost data using the above methods, it is recommended to contact Synology support for further assistance. They have expertise in dealing with data loss situations and may be able to provide additional guidance or solutions.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Regularly backing up your data and implementing RAID configurations can help minimize the risk of data loss on NAS devices.

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS716+II / DS716+ 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 DS716+II / DS716+. 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 DS716+II / DS716+ has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

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

NAS supports:

• Btrfs;
• 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 DS716+II / DS716+ 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