Avoiding Data Loss on NAS Thecus N12910 and Recovering Deleted Files: In-Depth Guide

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 regular performance monitoring and optimization help in preventing data loss on NAS Thecus N12910 devices?

Regular performance monitoring and optimization can help in preventing data loss on NAS Thecus N12910 devices in the following ways:

1. Identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks: Regular monitoring helps to identify any performance issues or bottlenecks that can potentially lead to data loss. By optimizing the performance of the NAS device, you can ensure that it operates efficiently and does not become overloaded or overwhelmed, reducing the risk of data loss.
2. Monitoring storage capacity: Regularly monitoring the storage capacity of the NAS device helps to ensure that it does not reach its maximum limit. When the storage capacity is near its limit, there is a higher risk of data loss due to insufficient space for new data. By optimizing the storage capacity and managing data effectively, you can prevent data loss.
3. Monitoring disk health: Regularly monitoring the health of the disks in the NAS device helps to identify any potential issues or failures. By detecting and replacing failing disks in a timely manner, you can prevent data loss caused by disk failures.
4. Implementing RAID and backup strategies: Regular performance monitoring can help ensure that RAID configurations are functioning properly. RAID provides redundancy and data protection by distributing data across multiple disks. Monitoring the RAID performance and integrity helps to prevent data loss in case of disk failures. Additionally, regular monitoring can ensure that backup strategies are working effectively, providing an additional layer of protection against data loss.
5. Monitoring network connectivity: Regularly monitoring the network connectivity of the NAS device helps to identify any issues or interruptions in the network connection. Network connectivity problems can lead to data loss if the NAS device becomes inaccessible or if data transfers are interrupted. By monitoring and optimizing the network connectivity, you can prevent data loss caused by network issues.

Overall, regular performance monitoring and optimization of NAS Thecus N12910 devices help to ensure the smooth operation of the device, identify potential issues, and take proactive measures to prevent data loss.

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

Although NAS N12910 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 N12910. 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

N12910 has 12 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• RAID 10;
• 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 N12910 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