Steps to Recover Your NAS Thecus N299 RAID Array: Recovery Tips When It Breaks

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 known limitations or performance bottlenecks that can increase data loss risks for NAS Thecus N299 devices?

There are a few known limitations and performance bottlenecks that can potentially increase data loss risks for Thecus N299 NAS devices:

1. Hardware limitations: The Thecus N299 is equipped with a Marvell 88F6281 processor, which has a relatively low processing power compared to more advanced NAS devices. This can result in slower data transfer speeds and potentially affect the device's overall performance.
2. Lack of redundancy: The N299 is a 2-bay NAS device, meaning it can only accommodate two hard drives for data storage. Without a RAID configuration or any redundancy mechanism, if one drive fails, there is a higher risk of data loss. It is recommended to use a RAID configuration or implement regular backups to mitigate this risk.
3. Limited memory: The N299 typically comes with 256MB of RAM, which may limit its ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks or large file transfers. This can impact the overall performance and potentially increase the risk of data loss during intensive operations.
4. Compatibility issues: Some users have reported compatibility issues with certain hard drive models or firmware versions, which can lead to data corruption or loss. It is recommended to check for firmware updates and ensure compatibility with the specific hard drives being used.
5. Network limitations: The N299 has a 10/100 Ethernet port, which may limit the network transfer speeds. This can potentially result in slower data transfers and increase the risk of data loss if the network connection becomes a bottleneck.

To minimize data loss risks, it is advisable to regularly backup data, implement a RAID configuration for redundancy, keep the firmware up to date, and ensure compatibility with recommended hardware components.

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

Although NAS N299 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 N299. 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

N299 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 N299 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