- 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?
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 does a NAS Synology FlashStation FS6400 device store and manage data?
The Synology FlashStation FS6400 is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device that uses a combination of hardware and software to store and manage data. Here's a breakdown of how it works:
- Storage Architecture: The FS6400 utilizes a high-performance storage architecture that includes solid-state drives (SSDs) for fast data access and low-latency performance. It supports both SATA and NVMe SSDs, allowing for flexible storage configurations.
- RAID Protection: The device supports various RAID configurations such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, which provide data redundancy and protection against drive failures. RAID allows for data striping (spreading data across multiple drives) and mirroring (creating duplicate copies of data on separate drives).
- Disk Group and Volume: The FS6400 allows you to create disk groups by combining multiple drives into a single logical unit. Within a disk group, you can create multiple volumes, each with its own file system and storage settings. This allows for efficient storage management and allocation of capacity based on specific needs.
- Btrfs File System: Synology NAS devices, including the FS6400, use the Btrfs (B-tree file system) by default. Btrfs offers advanced features such as data checksums, snapshot capabilities, and efficient data deduplication. It ensures data integrity and provides flexible data protection options.
- Data Management: The FS6400 comes with a comprehensive set of software tools and features for data management. This includes file sharing protocols (SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, etc.), data backup solutions (local, remote, cloud), data synchronization, data deduplication, and data compression. These tools allow users to easily store, access, and manage their data.
- Centralized Management: Synology provides a web-based user interface called DiskStation Manager (DSM) to manage the FS6400 and other NAS devices. DSM offers a user-friendly interface for configuring settings, managing storage, creating user accounts, and installing additional applications. It also supports various security features to protect data access and ensure privacy.
Overall, the Synology FlashStation FS6400 combines high-performance hardware with advanced software features to provide reliable and efficient data storage and management capabilities.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS FlashStation FS6400 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Synology FlashStation FS6400. 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.
FlashStation FS6400 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 FS6400 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 |