RAID Array Recovery on NAS Thecus N3200: How to Handle a Breakdown

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Thecus N3200
• 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 regular system monitoring and alerting help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Thecus N3200 devices?

Regular system monitoring and alerting can help in early detection and prevention of data loss events on NAS Thecus N3200 devices in the following ways:

1. Monitoring Disk Health: Regular monitoring of the NAS device's disks can help identify any potential issues such as bad sectors or imminent disk failures. By using disk monitoring tools, you can receive alerts when disk health deteriorates, allowing you to take immediate action to replace the failing disk and prevent data loss.
2. RAID Array Monitoring: The Thecus N3200 supports various RAID configurations. Monitoring the RAID array's status is crucial to ensure data redundancy and protection. Regular monitoring can help detect any degraded or failed RAID arrays, enabling you to rebuild or replace the faulty disks promptly and prevent data loss.
3. Network Traffic Monitoring: Monitoring network traffic on the NAS device can help identify any unusual or suspicious activities that may indicate unauthorized access attempts or data breaches. By setting up alerts for abnormal network behavior, you can detect potential security threats early on and take necessary measures to prevent data loss.
4. File System Monitoring: Monitoring the file system on the NAS device can help detect any corruption or errors that may lead to data loss. Regularly checking the integrity of the file system and receiving alerts for any inconsistencies can help you take corrective actions before data loss occurs.
5. Backup Monitoring: If you have implemented a backup strategy for your NAS device, monitoring the backup process is essential. Regularly verifying the success of backups and receiving alerts for failed or incomplete backups can help ensure that your data is adequately protected and can be restored in case of data loss events.
6. Temperature and Environmental Monitoring: Monitoring the temperature and environmental conditions of the NAS device can help prevent data loss caused by overheating or other environmental factors. By setting up alerts for abnormal temperature levels or environmental conditions, you can take preventive actions such as improving ventilation or relocating the device to a cooler area.

By implementing regular system monitoring and alerting on your Thecus N3200 NAS device, you can proactively identify and address potential issues that may lead to data loss, minimizing the risk of data loss events and ensuring the safety of your data.

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

Although the NAS N3200 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 N3200. 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

N3200 has 3 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• 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 N3200 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