NAS Synology RackStation RS2414RP+ / RS2414+ RAID Controller Failure: Causes, Recovery Measures, and Data Recovery Solutions

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 can quality of service (QoS) settings impact data transfer reliability on NAS Synology RackStation RS2414RP+ / RS2414+ devices?

Quality of Service (QoS) settings can impact data transfer reliability on NAS Synology RackStation RS2414RP+ / RS2414+ devices in the following ways:

1. Bandwidth Allocation: QoS settings allow you to prioritize certain types of network traffic over others. By allocating more bandwidth to critical services like file transfers, you can ensure a smoother and more reliable data transfer experience.
2. Traffic Control: QoS settings enable you to control the flow of network traffic, preventing congestion and ensuring that data transfers are not interrupted or delayed due to excessive network load. You can set limits on the amount of bandwidth allocated to different applications or devices, preventing any single transfer from monopolizing the network.
3. Packet Prioritization: QoS settings can prioritize certain types of network packets over others based on their importance. By giving priority to data transfer packets, you can ensure that they are processed and delivered without delay, improving the reliability of the transfer process.
4. Latency Reduction: QoS settings can help reduce network latency, which is the delay between the initiation of a data transfer and its completion. By prioritizing data transfers and minimizing delays caused by other network activities, you can improve the reliability and speed of file transfers on your NAS device.
5. Traffic Shaping: QoS settings allow you to shape or control the flow of network traffic, ensuring that data transfers are not disrupted by sudden bursts of network activity. By managing the bandwidth usage of different applications or devices, you can prevent network congestion and maintain a reliable data transfer environment.

Overall, QoS settings on NAS Synology RackStation RS2414RP+ / RS2414+ devices can significantly enhance data transfer reliability by optimizing bandwidth allocation, controlling network traffic, prioritizing packets, reducing latency, and shaping traffic flow.

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

Although NAS RackStation RS2414RP+ / RS2414+ 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 RS2414RP+ / RS2414+. 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 RS2414RP+ / RS2414+ has 12 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 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 RS2414RP+ / RS2414+ 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