- 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 a NAS TerraMaster U8-322-9100 device's power management settings impact data availability and potential loss?
The power management settings of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like the TerraMaster U8-322-9100 can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss. Here are a few ways in which power management settings can affect data:
- Power Outages: If the power management settings are not properly configured, sudden power outages or fluctuations can result in the NAS device shutting down unexpectedly. This can lead to data loss or corruption if the device was in the middle of a write operation or if the file system was not properly synced.
- Scheduled Power Off/On: Some NAS devices allow users to schedule automatic power off and power on events. If the power off event is scheduled during a critical data transfer or backup process, it can result in incomplete or interrupted operations, potentially leading to data loss or inconsistency.
- Disk Spindown: Power management settings often include options to spin down the hard disk drives (HDDs) when they are not in use for a certain period. While this helps in reducing power consumption and prolonging HDD lifespan, it can introduce delays when accessing data. If the spin-down time is set too aggressively, it can cause delays in accessing files, especially if multiple users are accessing the NAS simultaneously.
- Wake-on-LAN: Wake-on-LAN (WoL) is a feature that allows the NAS device to be woken up from a sleeping or powered-off state using a network signal. If the power management settings are not properly configured or if the WoL feature is not enabled, it can result in the NAS being inaccessible until manually powered on. This can cause downtime and impact data availability.
To mitigate the potential impact on data availability and loss, it is important to carefully configure the power management settings of the NAS device. This may involve setting appropriate spin-down times, scheduling power off/on events during non-critical periods, enabling WoL if required, and ensuring proper backup and redundancy measures are in place to protect against unexpected power interruptions or failures.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS U8-322-9100 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:
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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 U8-322-9100. 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.
How to recover data from a TerraMaster
U8-322-9100 has 8 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 U8-322-9100 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
| 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 |
Yes, data recovery can still be performed on a NAS TerraMaster U8-322-9100 device even if there are issues with the operating system or firmware. In such cases, the data recovery process typically involves accessing the hard drives directly instead of relying on the NAS device's software interface.
To recover data from a NAS device with OS or firmware issues, you can follow these general steps:
It's important to note that if the data loss is due to physical damage or hardware failure of the hard drives themselves, it may be necessary to seek professional data recovery services to increase the chances of successful recovery.