NAS Synology UC3200 RAID Controller Failure: Causes, Recovery Techniques, and Consequences

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 the number of drives in a NAS Synology UC3200 device's RAID array impact data recovery and potential loss?

The number of drives in a NAS Synology UC3200 device's RAID array can impact data recovery and potential loss in the following ways:

1. Data redundancy: RAID arrays use various levels (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, etc.) to distribute and duplicate data across multiple drives. The more drives in the array, the higher the level of redundancy, which means better protection against drive failures. With more drives, the RAID array can sustain multiple drive failures without losing data.
2. Rebuild time: When a drive fails in a RAID array, the data needs to be rebuilt onto a replacement drive. The larger the RAID array, the longer it takes to rebuild the data. During the rebuild process, if another drive fails, it can lead to data loss. So, larger RAID arrays have a longer vulnerability window where data is at risk.
3. Drive failure risk: As the number of drives in the RAID array increases, so does the probability of drive failures. More drives mean more potential points of failure, which can increase the risk of data loss. Regular monitoring and maintenance of the drives are crucial to minimize this risk.
4. Data recovery complexity: In the event of multiple drive failures, data recovery becomes more complex with larger RAID arrays. If too many drives fail, it may become impossible to recover the data using traditional methods. In such cases, specialized data recovery services may be required, which can be costly and time-consuming.
5. Cost: More drives in a RAID array mean higher hardware costs, as each drive adds to the overall storage capacity. Additionally, larger RAID arrays may require more powerful hardware, which can further increase the cost.

Overall, while larger RAID arrays provide better data redundancy and storage capacity, they also come with increased risk and complexity in terms of data recovery and potential loss. It is essential to balance the benefits and risks based on your specific needs and requirements.

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

Although NAS UC3200 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 UC3200. 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

UC3200 has 60 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID F1;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 10;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 0;
• Basic;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• Btrfs;

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 UC3200 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