How to Prevent Data Loss on NAS Thecus N2350 and Recover Deleted Files Quickly and Safely

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Thecus N2350
• 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.

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

Although the NAS N2350 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 N2350. 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

N2350 has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• 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 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.

RAID Recovery Software: Detailed Comparison