How to recover data from TerraMaster D5-300 NAS

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 TerraMaster also introduce some modifications to this process, and that is why data can be written to hard disk in a wide variety of ways.

Are there any preventive measures to minimize the risk of data loss on NAS TerraMaster D5-300 devices?

Yes, there are several preventive measures you can take to minimize the risk of data loss on NAS TerraMaster D5-300 devices. Here are some recommendations:

1. Regular backups: Implement a regular backup strategy to ensure that your data is regularly backed up to an external storage device or cloud storage. This will provide an additional copy of your data in case of any data loss or device failure.
2. RAID configuration: Configure your NAS device in a RAID configuration, such as RAID 1 or RAID 5, which provides data redundancy. This means that even if one drive fails, your data will still be accessible from the remaining drives.
3. Use reliable hard drives: Ensure that you use high-quality and reliable hard drives in your NAS device. Choose drives specifically designed for NAS usage, as they are built to handle continuous operations and have better reliability.
4. Regular firmware updates: Keep your NAS device's firmware up to date. Manufacturers often release firmware updates that include bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements. Regularly check for updates and apply them as necessary.
5. Implement user access controls: Set up proper user access controls and permissions to restrict unauthorized access to your data. Assign appropriate access rights to different users and regularly review and update these permissions as needed.
6. Protect against power outages: Use a reliable uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect your NAS device from sudden power outages. Power outages can cause data corruption or loss, so having a UPS will help prevent such issues.
7. Secure network connection: Ensure that your NAS device is connected to a secure network. Use strong passwords for your network and NAS device login credentials. Consider enabling encryption protocols, such as SSL/TLS, for secure data transfer.
8. Monitor device health: Regularly monitor the health of your NAS device, including hard drive status, temperature, and system logs. Most NAS devices provide monitoring tools or software that can alert you to any potential issues or failures.

By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of data loss on your NAS TerraMaster D5-300 device.

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

Although NAS D5-300 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.

   Go to view

   

   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 TerraMaster D5-300. 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a TerraMaster

D5-300 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• Ext2;
• Ext3;
• Ext4;
• 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 TerraMaster D5-300 network-attached storage keeps OS Linux 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