What to Do When Your NAS Thecus N1200 RAID Array Breaks: Steps for Recovery

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 Thecus 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 user authentication methods impact data loss risks for NAS Thecus N1200 devices?

User authentication methods can have a significant impact on data loss risks for NAS Thecus N1200 devices. Here are a few ways in which authentication methods can affect data loss risks:

1. Weak Passwords: If users choose weak or easily guessable passwords, it increases the risk of unauthorized access to the NAS device. Attackers can gain access to sensitive data and potentially cause data loss or damage.
2. Default Credentials: If users do not change the default login credentials provided by the manufacturer, it becomes easier for attackers to gain unauthorized access. Default credentials are often well-known, making it easier for attackers to exploit them.
3. Lack of Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide additional verification, such as a fingerprint or a one-time password. Without MFA, a compromised password can lead to unauthorized access and potential data loss.
4. Lack of Account Lockout Policies: Without account lockout policies, an attacker can repeatedly attempt to guess passwords without any consequences. This increases the risk of successful brute-force attacks and unauthorized access to the NAS device.
5. Inadequate User Access Controls: If users have excessive or unnecessary privileges, it increases the risk of accidental or intentional data loss. Users should only have the minimum required permissions to perform their tasks, reducing the potential impact of any compromised accounts.
6. Lack of Audit Logs and Monitoring: Without proper logging and monitoring in place, it becomes difficult to detect and investigate unauthorized access attempts or suspicious activities. Timely detection of such events is crucial to mitigating data loss risks.

To minimize data loss risks, it is recommended to enforce strong password policies, change default credentials, enable multi-factor authentication, implement account lockout policies, regularly review user access controls, and ensure proper audit logs and monitoring are in place.

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

Although NAS N1200 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 Thecus N1200. 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 Thecus

N1200 has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• JBOD;

NAS supports:

• EXT3;
• EXT4;
• XFS;

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 Thecus N1200 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