How to Recover Data from NAS Synology DiskStation DS718+ RAID Arrays: Coping with 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 regular disk health monitoring and analysis help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Synology DiskStation DS718+ devices?

Regular disk health monitoring and analysis can help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Synology DiskStation DS718+ devices in the following ways:

1. Early detection of disk failures: Disk health monitoring tools can regularly scan the disks for any signs of deterioration or potential failures. By monitoring the SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data of the disks, these tools can identify issues such as bad sectors, high temperature, or abnormal operating conditions. This early detection allows you to proactively replace the failing disk before it completely fails and causes data loss.
2. RAID array integrity: Synology DiskStation DS718+ supports various RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection. Regular disk health monitoring ensures that all the disks in the RAID array are functioning properly and are synchronized. It helps identify any inconsistencies or degraded performance in the RAID array, allowing you to take corrective actions to prevent data loss.
3. Disk usage and capacity planning: Monitoring disk health also provides insights into the overall disk usage and capacity of the NAS. By analyzing the data, you can identify any potential capacity issues or disk space constraints. This allows you to take necessary actions such as adding more disks or expanding storage capacity to avoid running out of space and potential data loss due to insufficient storage.
4. Proactive disk replacement: Disk health monitoring tools can provide alerts and notifications when a disk shows signs of failure or degradation. This enables you to replace the failing disk proactively, minimizing the risk of data loss. By having spare disks ready and monitoring the health status, you can ensure that your data remains protected and accessible.
5. Data backup and recovery: Regular disk health monitoring complements data backup strategies. By monitoring the health of the disks, you can ensure that your backup processes are running smoothly and that the backup copies are not compromised. In case of a disk failure, having a recent backup can significantly reduce the impact of data loss and aid in the recovery process.

Overall, regular disk health monitoring and analysis provide proactive insights into the health and performance of the disks in NAS Synology DiskStation DS718+ devices. It helps in identifying potential issues, taking preventive measures, and ensuring the safety and availability of your data.

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

Although NAS DiskStation DS718+ 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 DS718+. 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 DS718+ has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• Synology Hybrid RAID;
• 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 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 DS718+ 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