How to Extract Data from a RAID Disk When NAS TerraMaster U16-322-9100 Does Not Turn On

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS TerraMaster U16-322-9100
• How to Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC
  • Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery
  • How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images
  • Where Are the User’s Files Actually Stored?
  • RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison

Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID

Conventional hard drives store user data by writing it sequentially across the disk surface, which means an entire file is typically located on a single drive. In contrast, when data is written to a RAID array, each file is split into multiple fragments. These fragments are then distributed and written in sequence across all the drives in the array. Depending on the configuration, fragment sizes can range from 2 KB to 2 MB, so every file is physically stored across several disks at once.

This approach significantly increases read and write performance — after all, writing two halves of a 1 GB file to two drives simultaneously is much faster than writing the full 1 GB to a single disk. However, this same mechanism makes file recovery far more complex.

Different RAID levels use different methods to distribute and protect data. On top of that, manufacturers like TerraMaster often add their own proprietary structures and variations. As a result, data can be written to disks in many different formats, and each requires a specific approach during recovery.

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 Remove Hard Disks from Your NAS and Connect Them to a PC

Although the NAS U16-322-9100 can be accessed over the network, you still need to remove its hard disks and connect them directly to a Windows PC. Only then can the recovery software properly scan and analyze the drives. Follow these steps:

1. Power off the NAS and disconnect it from the power source.

   WARNING! Before removing any drives, carefully read the device manual. Improper actions may damage both the NAS enclosure and the hard disks in the RAID array.

2. Remove the hard disks one by one, gently sliding each drive out of its slot. Remember that hard disks are highly sensitive: any impact or drop can cause serious physical damage.

3. Label each hard disk according to its position inside the NAS. The order of the drives is crucial for correct RAID reconstruction.

4. Connect the drives to your computer. In this video, we explain which ports you can use to connect hard disks and what to do if your PC does not have enough free connectors.

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   How to Order Remote Data Recovery

Step-by-Step Data Recovery with Hetman RAID Recovery

This program restores data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with TerraMaster U16-322-9100. Each hard disk in the array contains technical metadata describing how files were written. When launched, Hetman RAID Recovery analyzes this metadata, automatically reconstructs the damaged array, and provides access to its contents. After that, you can browse the recovered disk and save your files. The program can also restore files that were 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;

How to Safely Recover Data from Disk Images

This utility allows you to create a complete copy of a disk and work with the disk image instead of the physical drive. This approach helps protect your data from:

• Overwriting during the recovery process;
• Additional data loss caused by bad sectors;
• User errors.

To create a disk image, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have enough free space to store the image. Its size will typically match the size of the original disk.

2. In the main window, select the target disk and choose Tools - Save Disk. You can also select multiple disks if needed.

3. When the Image Creation Wizard opens, select whether you want to save the entire disk or only a specific region. Adjust the settings and click Next.

   

4. Choose the directory where the image will be saved. You may select any available disk connected to your PC or upload the image via FTP.

   

Where Are the User’s Files Actually 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison