RAID Array Recovery on NAS Thecus N16000: Steps to Recover When It Breaks

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Thecus N16000
• 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 Thecus 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 the NAS Thecus N16000 device's CPU or processing power affect data transfer and potential loss?

The CPU or processing power of the NAS Thecus N16000 device can have a significant impact on data transfer speed and potential data loss. Here's how:

1. Data Transfer Speed: The CPU is responsible for processing and managing data transfers within the NAS device. A powerful CPU can handle multiple data transfer requests simultaneously, resulting in faster transfer speeds. On the other hand, a weaker CPU may struggle to handle high data transfer loads, leading to slower transfer speeds.
2. Network Throughput: The CPU also affects the network throughput of the NAS device. A powerful CPU can efficiently handle network traffic, allowing for faster data transfers over the network. In contrast, a slower CPU may bottleneck the network, reducing the overall transfer speed.
3. RAID Rebuild Time: In case of a disk failure in a RAID array, the NAS device needs to rebuild the data from the remaining disks onto a new disk. This process requires significant CPU resources. A faster CPU can handle the RAID rebuild process more efficiently, reducing the time it takes to rebuild the array and minimizing the risk of data loss during this period.
4. Data Integrity: The CPU plays a crucial role in ensuring data integrity during data transfers. It performs various tasks like data encryption, error checking, and checksum calculations. A powerful CPU can handle these tasks quickly and accurately, reducing the chances of data corruption or loss during transfers.
5. Data Protection Features: The NAS device may offer various data protection features like snapshotting, deduplication, or compression. These features rely on the CPU's processing power to efficiently perform their tasks. A weaker CPU may struggle to handle these operations, potentially impacting data transfer speeds and increasing the risk of data loss.

Overall, a powerful CPU in the NAS Thecus N16000 device can significantly improve data transfer speeds, reduce rebuild times, enhance data integrity, and ensure efficient utilization of data protection features.

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

Although the NAS N16000 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 Thecus N16000. 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 Thecus

N16000 has 16 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;

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 Thecus N16000 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