RAID Array Recovery on NAS Thecus N2200PLUS: What to Do When It Stops Working

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Thecus N2200PLUS
• 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 storage tiering or caching strategies impact data availability and potential loss on NAS Thecus N2200PLUS devices?

Storage tiering and caching strategies can have a significant impact on data availability and potential loss on NAS Thecus N2200PLUS devices. Here are a few ways these strategies can affect data:

1. Improved Performance: By implementing caching strategies, frequently accessed data can be stored in a faster cache, such as solid-state drives (SSDs). This improves read and write speeds, resulting in better overall performance. Faster access to data enhances data availability as users can retrieve information quickly.
2. Enhanced Data Redundancy: Storage tiering allows for the creation of redundant copies of data across different storage tiers. This redundancy ensures that even if one storage tier fails, the data remains available on another tier. This reduces the potential loss of data in case of hardware failures.
3. Increased Storage Capacity: Storage tiering enables the utilization of different storage media types, such as high-capacity hard disk drives (HDDs) and lower-capacity but faster SSDs. This combination allows for increased storage capacity while maintaining high-performance levels. More available storage capacity ensures data availability and reduces the risk of data loss due to insufficient space.
4. Data Protection: Some caching strategies include data protection mechanisms like write-back or write-through caching. Write-back caching temporarily stores data in the cache before writing it to the main storage. In case of power loss or system failure, the data in the cache can be lost. Write-through caching, on the other hand, writes data to both the cache and the main storage simultaneously, ensuring data availability and reducing the risk of data loss.

However, it's important to note that improper configuration or management of storage tiering and caching strategies can lead to potential data loss. For example, if the caching strategy is not adequately monitored or if the cache is not properly backed up, there is a risk of losing data stored in the cache. Therefore, it is crucial to implement these strategies carefully and regularly monitor their performance to ensure data availability and minimize potential loss.

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

Although the NAS N2200PLUS 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 N2200PLUS. 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

N2200PLUS has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

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 N2200PLUS 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