RAID Array Recovery on NAS Thecus N2100: How to Recover When It’s Broken

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 the number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS Thecus N2100 device affect data loss risks?

The number of concurrent users or clients accessing a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like Thecus N2100 can affect data loss risks in the following ways:

1. Increased risk of data corruption: When multiple users access and modify files simultaneously, there is a higher chance of conflicts and data corruption. If two users try to modify the same file at the same time, it can result in data inconsistencies and potential loss.
2. Higher network traffic: More concurrent users mean increased network traffic, which can put a strain on the NAS device and the network infrastructure. This increased load can lead to performance issues, slower response times, and potential data loss if the system becomes overwhelmed.
3. Increased chances of accidental deletions or modifications: With more users accessing the NAS, the probability of accidental file deletions or modifications also increases. A user might mistakenly delete or overwrite important files, leading to permanent data loss if proper backup measures are not in place.
4. Limited resources: NAS devices have finite resources like processing power, memory, and storage capacity. When multiple users access the NAS concurrently, these resources can get exhausted quickly, leading to system instability, crashes, and potential data loss.
5. Security vulnerabilities: The more users accessing a NAS device, the more potential entry points for security breaches. If proper access controls, user permissions, and security measures are not implemented, malicious users or hackers may gain unauthorized access to the NAS and compromise or delete data.

To mitigate these risks, it is essential to:

• Implement proper user access controls and permissions to ensure that only authorized users can access and modify files.
• Regularly backup the data stored on the NAS to an off-site location or cloud storage to protect against accidental deletions, modifications, or hardware failures.
• Monitor the NAS device's performance and network traffic to ensure it can handle the concurrent user load efficiently.
• Implement security measures like firewalls, encryption, and regular firmware updates to protect against unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
• Educate users about best practices for file sharing and data management to minimize the chances of accidental data loss.

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

Although NAS N2100 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.

   Go to view

   

   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 N2100. 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.

Go to view

How to recover data from a Thecus

N2100 has 2 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 N2100 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