How to recover data from TerraMaster U16-322-9100 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.

How can data fragmentation impact the read and write speeds, and potential data loss on NAS TerraMaster U16-322-9100 devices?

Data fragmentation can have several impacts on read and write speeds, as well as potential data loss, on NAS TerraMaster U16-322-9100 devices:

1. Read and Write Speeds: Data fragmentation refers to the scattering of data across different physical locations on a storage device. When data is fragmented, the NAS device needs to access multiple locations to retrieve or write the complete file, resulting in increased seek time and reduced performance. This can slow down read and write speeds significantly, leading to longer access times and decreased overall system performance.
2. Disk Fragmentation: Data fragmentation can also lead to disk fragmentation, where the physical blocks of a file are scattered across different areas of the hard drive. This can cause additional delays in read and write operations as the drive heads need to move more frequently to access the scattered data blocks, resulting in slower performance.
3. Data Loss: Fragmentation can increase the risk of data loss on NAS devices. If a file is fragmented and the file system metadata gets corrupted or lost, it becomes challenging for the NAS device to locate and retrieve all the scattered data blocks. This can result in data loss or corruption, making it difficult or impossible to recover the complete file.

To mitigate the impact of data fragmentation on NAS TerraMaster U16-322-9100 devices, the following steps can be taken:

1. Regular Defragmentation: Perform regular defragmentation of the storage drives on the NAS device. This process rearranges the scattered data blocks, optimizing their placement on the disk and reducing fragmentation. Defragmentation can help improve read and write speeds by minimizing seek time and enhancing overall system performance.
2. File System Optimization: Ensure that the file system used on the NAS device supports efficient handling of large files and minimizes fragmentation. File systems like NTFS or ext4 have built-in mechanisms to reduce fragmentation and improve performance. Choose an appropriate file system for your NAS device that aligns with your specific requirements.
3. Proper Storage Management: Avoid filling up the storage drives to their maximum capacity, as this can increase the likelihood of fragmentation. Leaving some free space on the drives allows the NAS device to allocate contiguous blocks for new files, reducing fragmentation.
4. Regular Backup: To mitigate the risk of data loss due to fragmentation or other issues, it is crucial to maintain regular backups of important data stored on the NAS device. This ensures that even if data loss occurs, you can restore the files from a backup source.

By implementing these practices, you can minimize the impact of data fragmentation on read and write speeds and reduce the risk of potential data loss on NAS TerraMaster U16-322-9100 devices.

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

Although NAS U16-322-9100 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 U16-322-9100. 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

U16-322-9100 has 16 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 U16-322-9100 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