- 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?
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 regular disk health monitoring and analysis help in preventing potential data loss on NAS TerraMaster U16-722-2288 devices?
Regular disk health monitoring and analysis can help in preventing potential data loss on NAS TerraMaster U16-722-2288 devices in the following ways:
- Early detection of disk failures: By monitoring the health of the disks regularly, you can identify any signs of potential disk failures. This allows you to take immediate action, such as replacing the failing disk before it completely fails and causes data loss.
- Predictive analysis: Disk health monitoring tools often provide predictive analysis based on various parameters like SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data. These analyses can help identify patterns or indicators of potential disk failures, allowing you to proactively address the issue before it leads to data loss.
- RAID array monitoring: NAS devices like TerraMaster U16-722-2288 often use RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations for data redundancy and protection. Disk health monitoring can help ensure that all disks in the RAID array are functioning properly, detecting any degraded or failed disks. This allows you to rebuild the array or replace the faulty disk to maintain data integrity.
- Temperature and environmental monitoring: Disk health monitoring tools can also provide information about the temperature and environmental conditions of the disks. Excessive heat or other environmental factors can contribute to disk failures. By monitoring these parameters, you can take steps to improve ventilation or address any environmental issues that might affect the disk health.
- Data backup and recovery: Regular disk health monitoring can help you ensure that your data backup strategies are effective. By monitoring the health of the disks, you can verify the integrity of your backups and identify any issues that might affect the recovery process. This ensures that you have a reliable backup in case of data loss.
Overall, regular disk health monitoring and analysis provide proactive measures to detect and address disk failures, helping prevent potential data loss on NAS TerraMaster U16-722-2288 devices.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS U16-722-2288 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with TerraMaster U16-722-2288. 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.
How to recover data from a TerraMaster
U16-722-2288 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 U16-722-2288 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
| Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
| ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The TerraMaster U16-722-2288 is a network-attached storage (NAS) device that supports up to 16 hard drives. The device itself does not impose any specific limitations on the size of data that can be stored or recovered. The maximum capacity of data that can be recovered from the device depends on various factors:
In summary, while the TerraMaster U16-722-2288 NAS device itself does not impose specific limitations on the size of data that can be recovered, the maximum capacity depends on factors such as hard drive capacity, RAID configuration, file system limitations, and network bandwidth.