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

Has your NAS Synology FlashStation FS3400 suddenly lost its network drive and you’re unsure what to do next? Did the RAID array collapse, making your files inaccessible? Is the device throwing errors during startup? Perhaps you accidentally rebuilt the RAID array or several hard drives failed at the same time?

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

Synology FlashStation FS3400 NAS Data Recovery in 2025

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to rebuild your RAID and recover data from an FlashStation FS3400. We’ll walk through the most common causes of failure and demonstrate proven methods to restore files from a lost or degraded RAID array.

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

RAID Recovery™ 2.8
Recover data from damaged RAID arrays inaccessible from a computer.
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Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like Synology often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS FlashStation FS3400 can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

  1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

    WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

  2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

  3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

  4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

    Go to view
    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

    How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

Hetman Raid Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Synology FlashStation FS3400. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were 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);

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

  • Overwriting during the recovery process;
  • Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
  • User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

  1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

  2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

  3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

    Hetman RAID Recovery: Image Creation Wizard
  4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

    Hetman RAID Recovery: Choose a disk or save the image via FTP

Where Are the User’s Files Actually 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Product Operating system RAID controller support Supported file systems Virtual RAID controller support Data recovery from damaged RAID File preview
Hetman RAID Recovery Windows, Linux, MacOS Yes, over 100 controllers FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, APFS, HFS+, Ext4, Ext3, Ext2, ReiserFS, Btrfs, VMFS, Hikvision, XFS, UFS, ZFS Yes Yes Yes
DiskInternals RAID Recovery Windows Yes, over 10 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ No Yes Yes
R-Studio Windows, Mac, Linux Yes, over 20 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery Windows, Mac, Linux Yes, over 100 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ Yes Yes Yes
EaseUS Data Recovery Windows Yes, over 20 controllers FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ No Yes Yes
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery Windows 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.