NAS Synology Rack Station RS814RP+ / RS814+ / RS814 RAID Arrays: Data Recovery Tips After 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 can file system corruption impact data integrity on NAS Synology Rack Station RS814RP+ / RS814+ / RS814 devices?

File system corruption can have a significant impact on data integrity on NAS Synology Rack Station RS814RP+ / RS814+ / RS814 devices. Here are some ways it can affect data integrity:

1. Data Loss: File system corruption can lead to the loss of data stored on the NAS. This can happen if critical file system structures, such as the master file table or file allocation table, get corrupted or damaged. In such cases, files may become inaccessible or completely lost.
2. Data Inconsistency: Corruption in the file system can result in data inconsistencies, where the information stored in files or directories does not match the actual data on the storage medium. This can lead to incorrect or incomplete data being retrieved, causing issues with data integrity.
3. File System Errors: Corrupted file systems can cause various errors to occur during normal operations. These errors can prevent files from being read or written properly, resulting in data corruption or loss.
4. Reduced Performance: File system corruption can impact the performance of the NAS device. The corrupted file system may cause delays in accessing files, slower read/write speeds, and overall degraded performance.
5. Unreliable Backups: If the file system corruption affects the backup mechanisms on the NAS, it can render the backups unreliable or unusable. This can make it difficult to restore data in case of data loss or corruption.

To mitigate the impact of file system corruption on data integrity, it is essential to take preventive measures:

1. Regular backups: Maintain regular backups of critical data stored on the NAS. This ensures that even if corruption occurs, you can restore the data from a clean backup.
2. RAID Configuration: Utilize RAID configurations on the NAS devices to provide data redundancy and protection against disk failures. RAID can help in recovering data in case of file system corruption on a single disk.
3. File System Check: Perform regular file system checks or scans on the NAS devices. This helps to identify and fix any file system errors or inconsistencies before they cause significant data integrity issues.
4. Firmware Updates: Keep the NAS device's firmware up to date. Manufacturers often release firmware updates that address known file system issues or vulnerabilities, improving data integrity.
5. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): Use a UPS to protect the NAS from sudden power outages or fluctuations. Abrupt power loss can increase the risk of file system corruption.

By implementing these measures, you can minimize the impact of file system corruption on data integrity and ensure the reliability of your NAS Synology Rack Station RS814RP+ / RS814+ / RS814 devices.

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

Although NAS Rack Station RS814RP+ / RS814+ / RS814 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 Rack Station RS814RP+ / RS814+ / RS814. 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

Rack Station RS814RP+ / RS814+ / RS814 has 4 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 Rack Station RS814RP+ / RS814+ / RS814 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