Extracting Data from a RAID Disk When NAS TerraMaster U12-420 is Not Starting: Comprehensive Guide

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.

How can a NAS TerraMaster U12-420 device's power management settings impact data availability and potential loss?

The power management settings of a NAS TerraMaster U12-420 device can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss. Here are a few ways in which power management settings can affect data:

1. System Shutdown: If the power management settings are configured to automatically shut down the NAS device after a certain period of inactivity, it can lead to data unavailability. If the NAS shuts down while users are accessing or transferring data, it can result in interrupted connections and potential loss of unsaved or uncommitted data.
2. Scheduled Power On/Off: Some NAS devices allow users to schedule automatic power on and power off times. If the power management settings are not properly configured or synchronized with user activity, it can result in data unavailability during critical work hours. For example, if the NAS is set to power off during a backup process or a data synchronization operation, it can lead to incomplete or failed tasks.
3. Power Loss Protection: Some NAS devices offer power loss protection mechanisms, such as battery backup or surge protection. If the power management settings do not properly utilize or configure these features, sudden power outages or voltage fluctuations can result in data loss or corruption. It is crucial to ensure that the power management settings are optimized to utilize these protective mechanisms effectively.
4. Disk Spinning and Sleep Modes: NAS devices often have power management settings that control the spinning of hard drives or put them into sleep mode after a certain period of inactivity. While these settings can save power, they can also impact data availability. If the drives take too long to spin up or wake from sleep mode when a user tries to access data, it can result in delayed response times and user frustration. Additionally, frequent spin-up and spin-down cycles can reduce the lifespan of hard drives, increasing the risk of data loss due to drive failures.

To mitigate the impact of power management settings on data availability and potential loss, it is important to carefully configure and test these settings based on the specific requirements of the NAS device and the data usage patterns. Regular backups, redundant storage configurations, and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems can also provide additional safeguards against data loss in case of power-related issues.

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

Although NAS U12-420 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 TerraMaster U12-420. 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 TerraMaster

U12-420 has 12 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• 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 U12-420 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