RAID Controller Failure on NAS Synology FlashStation FS3400: Causes, Recovery Measures, and Consequences

RAID controller failure on ⭐ NAS can lead to data loss. Here’s how to recover your files.

RAID Controller Failure on NAS Synology FlashStation FS3400: Causes, Recovery Measures, and Consequences

Synology FlashStation FS3400 NAS Data Recovery in 2024

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to rebuild your RAID and recover data from FlashStation FS3400.

RAID Controller Failure on NAS Synology FlashStation FS3400: Causes, Recovery Measures, and Consequences

RAID Recovery™ 2.6
Recover data from damaged RAID arrays inaccessible from a computer.
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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 specific system logs or event notifications to monitor for early detection of data loss on NAS Synology FlashStation FS3400 devices?

Yes, there are specific system logs and event notifications that you can monitor for early detection of data loss on NAS Synology FlashStation FS3400 devices. Here are a few examples:

  1. SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) Logs: Synology NAS devices support SMART technology, which monitors the health of hard drives. You can check the SMART logs regularly for any indications of failing drives or potential data loss issues.
  2. RAID Rebuild Notifications: If you have configured your Synology FS3400 with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), you should monitor the RAID rebuild notifications. A rebuild process is triggered when a drive fails, and monitoring this process can help you identify potential data loss situations.
  3. System Event Logs: Synology NAS devices maintain system event logs that record various activities and errors. Monitoring these logs can help you detect any unusual or critical events that may indicate data loss or other problems.
  4. Disk Health Notifications: Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) provides disk health notifications that alert you to any potential issues with the hard drives, such as bad sectors or high error rates. Keeping an eye on these notifications can help you identify data loss risks.
  5. Data Scrubbing Reports: Synology NAS devices offer data scrubbing functionality, which verifies and repairs data integrity on a regular basis. Monitoring the data scrubbing reports can help you identify any inconsistencies or potential data loss scenarios.

It is important to regularly review and monitor these logs and notifications to ensure early detection of data loss or any other issues on your Synology FlashStation FS3400 NAS device.

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

Although NAS FlashStation FS3400 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.

    Go to view
    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery

Hetman Raid Recovery

This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Synology FlashStation FS3400. 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.

Go to view
How to recover data from a Synology

How to recover data from a Synology

FlashStation FS3400 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 ToolsSave 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.

    Hetman Raid Recovery: Image Creation Wizard
  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.

    Hetman Raid Recovery: hoose any disk connected to this PC, or save the image by FTP

Where are user’s files stored?

The Synology FlashStation FS3400 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

Product Operating system License type RAID controller support Supported file systems Virtual RAID controller support Data recovery from damaged RAID File preview
Hetman RAID Recovery Windows Paid Yes, over 100 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes
DiskInternals RAID Recovery Windows Paid Yes, over 100 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ No Yes Yes
R-Studio Windows, Mac, Linux Paid Yes, over 200 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery Windows, Mac, Linux Paid Yes, over 1,000 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes
EaseUS Data Recovery Windows Paid Yes, over 20 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ No Yes Yes
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery Windows Free Yes, over 100 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes

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  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 9.08.2022 12:31 #
    If you want to ask a question about data recovery, from NAS FlashStation FS3400, feel free to leave a comment!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What are some key features of the Synology FlashStation FS3400 NAS?

    Some key features of the Synology FlashStation FS3400 NAS include:

    1. High-performance storage: The FS3400 is designed for high-performance storage with its dual Intel Xeon processors, up to 512GB DDR4 ECC RDIMM memory, and support for NVMe SSD cache acceleration.
    2. All-flash storage: The FS3400 is an all-flash NAS, meaning it uses solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). This allows for faster data access and improved overall performance.
    3. Scalability: The FS3400 supports up to 24 drive bays, allowing for a large amount of storage capacity. It also supports expansion units, which can be used to add additional drive bays if needed.
    4. High availability: The FS3400 supports Synology High Availability (SHA) technology, which ensures continuous availability and minimizes downtime by automatically switching to a standby server in the event of a hardware failure.
    5. Advanced data protection: The FS3400 includes advanced data protection features such as RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) support, which allows for data redundancy and increased reliability. It also supports various RAID levels, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10.
    6. Virtualization support: The FS3400 is compatible with popular virtualization platforms such as VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft Hyper-V. It also supports iSCSI and NFS protocols, making it suitable for virtualized environments.
    7. Comprehensive data backup and recovery: Synology's DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, which powers the FS3400, includes a wide range of backup and recovery features. These include scheduled backups, snapshot technology, and integration with cloud backup services.
    8. Secure data sharing and collaboration: The FS3400 offers secure file sharing and collaboration features, including support for user quotas, access controls, and encryption. It also provides integration with popular productivity tools such as Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
    9. Flexible connectivity options: The FS3400 includes multiple network interfaces, including multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports and optional 10GbE or 25GbE network adapters. This allows for flexible connectivity options and high-speed data transfer.
    10. User-friendly management interface: The FS3400 is managed through Synology's DSM operating system, which provides a user-friendly web-based interface. This interface allows for easy configuration, monitoring, and management of the NAS and its features.
  • How does the Synology FlashStation FS3400 enhance data storage and performance?

    The Synology FlashStation FS3400 enhances data storage and performance in several ways:

    1. Flash-based Storage: The FS3400 utilizes solid-state drives (SSDs) for storage instead of traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). SSDs are faster, more reliable, and have lower latency compared to HDDs. This results in improved data access speeds and faster overall performance.
    2. High-Speed Networking: The FS3400 is equipped with multiple high-speed Ethernet ports, allowing for faster data transfer rates. It supports 10GbE and 25GbE connections, enabling high-bandwidth data transmission and reducing network bottlenecks.
    3. Advanced RAID Support: The FS3400 supports various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10. RAID technology enhances data storage by distributing data across multiple drives, improving data redundancy, and providing increased performance and fault tolerance.
    4. SSD Cache Acceleration: The FS3400 supports SSD cache acceleration, where a portion of the SSDs is used as a cache for frequently accessed data. This helps to accelerate read and write operations, reducing latency and improving overall performance.
    5. Advanced File System: Synology's DSM operating system, which runs on the FS3400, utilizes the Btrfs file system. Btrfs offers advanced data protection features like data snapshots, data integrity checks, and automatic data repair. These features enhance data storage reliability and help prevent data corruption.
    6. Scalability: The FS3400 is designed to be scalable, allowing for the addition of more drives or expansion units to increase storage capacity. This scalability ensures that businesses can easily accommodate growing data storage needs without compromising performance.

    Overall, the combination of flash-based storage, high-speed networking, advanced RAID support, SSD cache acceleration, advanced file system, and scalability makes the Synology FlashStation FS3400 an excellent solution for enhancing data storage and performance.

  • Can you explain the advanced data protection and backup features offered by the Synology FlashStation FS3400?

    The Synology FlashStation FS3400 offers several advanced data protection and backup features to ensure the safety and integrity of your data. Some of these features include:

    1. Snapshot Replication: This feature allows you to create point-in-time snapshots of your data, capturing the entire system state at a specific moment. These snapshots can be replicated to another Synology NAS for off-site backup, ensuring data availability and recovery.
    2. High Availability: The FS3400 supports high availability (HA) clustering, where two Synology NAS systems are paired to form a cluster. In case of hardware failure, the second NAS takes over seamlessly, ensuring uninterrupted access to your data.
    3. RAID Protection: The FS3400 supports various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10. These RAID levels provide redundancy and data protection against drive failures.
    4. Data Scrubbing and Integrity Checks: The FS3400 periodically performs data scrubbing and integrity checks to identify and correct any inconsistencies or errors in the stored data. This helps maintain data integrity and ensures the accuracy of your backups.
    5. Backup and Restore Options: The FS3400 supports a wide range of backup and restore options, including local backups to external drives, network backups to other Synology NAS devices, cloud backups to popular cloud storage providers, and even backup to tape devices for long-term archival.
    6. Built-in Snapshot Replication Manager: The FS3400 includes a dedicated Snapshot Replication Manager that allows you to easily configure and manage snapshot replication tasks. You can set schedules, retention policies, and customize replication settings to meet your specific backup requirements.
    7. Virtual Machine (VM) Protection: The FS3400 is VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft Hyper-V certified, providing seamless integration with virtualization environments. It supports features like VMware vSphere VAAI and Microsoft ODX, enhancing VM performance and allowing for efficient backup and restoration of virtual machines.
    8. Synology Active Backup Suite: The FS3400 is compatible with Synology's Active Backup Suite, which offers comprehensive backup solutions for various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and virtual environments. This suite provides centralized management, deduplication, and incremental backups for efficient data protection.

    Overall, the advanced data protection and backup features offered by the Synology FlashStation FS3400 ensure the safety, availability, and recoverability of your data, making it an ideal storage solution for businesses and organizations with critical data requirements.

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