How to recover data from Thecus N2350 NAS

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.

Are there any guidelines for configuring security settings on NAS Thecus N2350 devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss?

Yes, there are several guidelines you can follow to configure security settings on Thecus N2350 NAS devices to prevent unauthorized access and potential data loss. Here are some recommendations:

1. Change the default administrator password: Upon initial setup, change the default password for the administrator account to a strong and unique password. Avoid using common or easily guessable passwords.
2. Enable firewall: Enable the built-in firewall on the NAS device to restrict incoming and outgoing network traffic. Configure the firewall to only allow necessary services and block unnecessary ports.
3. Update firmware: Regularly check for firmware updates from Thecus and apply them to ensure your NAS device has the latest security patches and bug fixes. This helps protect against known vulnerabilities.
4. Disable unnecessary services: Disable any unnecessary services or features on the NAS device that you don't require. This reduces the attack surface and minimizes the risk of exploitation.
5. Use strong user passwords: Enforce strong passwords for all user accounts on the NAS device. Encourage users to choose complex passwords that include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
6. Implement access control: Configure access control lists (ACLs) or user permissions to restrict access to specific folders or files. Only grant necessary permissions to users or groups to prevent unauthorized access.
7. Enable network encryption: Enable Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption for remote access to the NAS device. This ensures that data transmitted between the NAS and remote devices is encrypted and secure.
8. Regularly backup data: Implement a regular backup strategy to ensure important data is backed up to an external storage device or cloud storage. This helps mitigate the risk of data loss in case of hardware failure or security incidents.
9. Monitor and log activity: Enable logging and monitoring features on the NAS device to track and analyze system activity. Regularly review logs for any suspicious or unauthorized access attempts.
10. Physical security: Place the NAS device in a secure location to prevent physical access by unauthorized individuals. Consider locking the device in a cabinet or server room to protect it from theft or tampering.

Remember, these guidelines are general recommendations, and it's important to refer to the official documentation and user manual provided by Thecus for specific instructions on configuring security settings for your N2350 NAS device.

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

Although NAS N2350 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 N2350. 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

N2350 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 N2350 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