RAID Controller Failure on NAS Synology FlashStation FS2017: Recovery Options and Data 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 practices for off-site backup storage to prevent complete data loss in the event of a disaster?

Yes, there are several recommended practices for off-site backup storage to prevent complete data loss in the event of a disaster. Here are some of the key practices:

1. Regular Backups: Perform regular backups of your data to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information stored off-site. This can be done daily, weekly, or based on your organization's needs.
2. Redundancy: Use multiple off-site backup locations or providers to ensure redundancy. If one location or provider fails, you still have another copy of your data available.
3. Encryption: Encrypt your data before sending it to off-site storage to ensure its security and protect it from unauthorized access.
4. Physical Security: Choose off-site backup storage locations that have strong physical security measures in place, such as controlled access, surveillance cameras, and secure storage facilities.
5. Geographic Separation: Store your backups in geographically separate locations to minimize the risk of losing data due to regional disasters like fires, floods, or earthquakes.
6. Test Restores: Regularly test the restoration process from your off-site backups to ensure that the data can be recovered successfully. This helps identify any issues or errors in the backup and restore process.
7. Regular Monitoring: Monitor the backup process and ensure that backups are being performed as scheduled. Implement alert systems to notify you of any failures or issues with the backup storage.
8. Versioning and Retention: Implement versioning and retention policies to keep multiple versions of your backups and retain them for a specific duration. This allows you to recover from different points in time and protects against data corruption or accidental deletion.
9. Disaster Recovery Plan: Develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that includes the process for restoring data from off-site backups. Regularly review and update this plan to incorporate any changes in your infrastructure or business needs.
10. Service Level Agreements (SLAs): When using off-site backup storage providers, ensure that you have clear SLAs in place. These agreements should define the level of service, data availability, and response times in case of any issues.

By following these recommended practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of complete data loss and improve your organization's ability to recover from a disaster.

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

Although NAS FlashStation FS2017 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 FlashStation FS2017. 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

FlashStation FS2017 has 24 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 FlashStation FS2017 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