NAS Synology ioSafe 1520+ RAID Arrays: Data Recovery Following Natural Component Wear

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Synology ioSafe 1520+
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

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 ioSafe 1520+ devices?

Yes, there are several system logs and event notifications that can be monitored for early detection of data loss on NAS Synology ioSafe 1520+ devices. Here are a few key logs and notifications to monitor:

1. System Logs: The system logs provide a detailed record of various activities and events on the NAS device. You can monitor the logs for any error messages, disk failures, or abnormal activities that may indicate data loss.
2. SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) Logs: SMART logs provide information about the health and status of the hard drives in the NAS device. Monitoring SMART logs can help detect any potential issues or failures in the hard drives that could lead to data loss.
3. RAID Health and Rebuild Notifications: The NAS device uses RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) to ensure data redundancy and protection against drive failures. Monitoring RAID health and rebuild notifications can help detect any issues with the RAID array, such as failed drives or degraded performance, which may result in data loss.
4. Disk Station Manager (DSM) Event Notifications: DSM is the operating system running on Synology NAS devices. It provides various event notifications that can be configured to alert you about critical events, such as disk failures, file system errors, or abnormal system behaviors. Monitoring these notifications can help you detect data loss incidents promptly.
5. File System Integrity Checks: The NAS device can perform regular file system integrity checks to identify and repair any inconsistencies or corruptions in the data. Monitoring the results of these checks can help detect and resolve data loss issues before they escalate.

It is important to configure and regularly check these logs and notifications to ensure early detection of any potential data loss incidents on your NAS Synology ioSafe 1520+ device.

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

Although the NAS ioSafe 1520+ 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.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Synology ioSafe 1520+. 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.

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How to recover data from a Synology

ioSafe 1520+ has 5 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.

   

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.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?

The Synology ioSafe 1520+ 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