NAS Synology RackStation RS214 RAID Arrays: Data Recovery Methods for Natural Component Wear

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.

How does a NAS Synology RackStation RS214 device store and manage data?

The Synology RackStation RS214 is a network-attached storage (NAS) device that stores and manages data using various mechanisms. Here's how it typically works:

1. Hard Drives: The RS214 comes with two drive bays, and you can install two hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs) in these bays. The device supports various storage capacities, and you can configure the drives in different RAID configurations (e.g., RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD) depending on your requirements.
2. File System: The RS214 uses the Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, which supports multiple file systems. By default, it uses the Btrfs (B-Tree File System) or EXT4 file system, depending on your configuration. These file systems provide data integrity, snapshots, and other advanced features.
3. Data Management: The RS214 offers various data management features. You can create shared folders to organize your data and assign different access permissions to users or groups. It also supports file-level and folder-level encryption to ensure data security.
4. RAID Protection: If you configure the RS214 in a RAID configuration (e.g., RAID 1), it provides data redundancy. This means that even if one drive fails, your data remains accessible, and you can replace the faulty drive without downtime or data loss.
5. Backup and Sync: The RS214 supports various backup and synchronization mechanisms. You can schedule regular backups to external drives, other NAS devices, or cloud storage services. It also offers file syncing capabilities, allowing you to keep data synchronized across multiple devices.
6. Remote Access: Synology NAS devices come with built-in remote access features. With the RS214, you can access your data remotely using Synology's QuickConnect service or by setting up a virtual private network (VPN) connection. This enables you to access and manage your data from anywhere securely.
7. Application Ecosystem: The RS214 supports a wide range of applications through the Synology Package Center. You can install applications like file servers, media servers, backup utilities, surveillance software, and more. These applications enhance the functionality of the device and allow you to customize it according to your needs.

Overall, the Synology RackStation RS214 device stores and manages data by utilizing hard drives, file systems, RAID configurations, data management features, backup and sync mechanisms, remote access capabilities, and an extensive application ecosystem.

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

Although NAS RackStation RS214 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 RackStation RS214. 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

RackStation RS214 has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• Synology Hybrid RAID;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 0;
• Basic;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• EXT4;
• EXT3 (External Disk Only);
• FAT32 (External Disk Only);
• NTFS (External Disk Only);
• HFS+ (External Disk 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 RackStation RS214 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