Steps to Recover Your NAS Thecus N4200 RAID Array: What to Do After It Breaks

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Thecus N4200
• 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 vulnerability assessments and security audits help identify and mitigate potential data loss risks for NAS Thecus N4200 devices?

Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits can help identify and mitigate potential data loss risks for NAS Thecus N4200 devices in the following ways:

1. Identify vulnerabilities: Vulnerability assessments scan the NAS device for known vulnerabilities in the firmware, operating system, or installed applications. This helps identify any weaknesses that can be exploited by attackers and lead to data loss.
2. Patch and update management: Security audits ensure that the NAS device is up to date with the latest firmware, operating system, and application patches. Regularly applying patches and updates helps mitigate known vulnerabilities and strengthens the device's security posture.
3. Configuration review: Security audits can review the NAS device's configuration settings to ensure that they are aligned with security best practices. This includes checking access controls, user permissions, password policies, and network settings. Proper configuration reduces the risk of unauthorized access and data loss.
4. Access controls and authentication: Vulnerability assessments can evaluate the NAS device's access controls and authentication mechanisms. This includes checking if strong passwords are enforced, two-factor authentication is enabled, and unnecessary user accounts are removed. Strong access controls reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data loss.
5. Data backup and disaster recovery: Security audits can assess the NAS device's data backup and disaster recovery processes. This includes checking if regular backups are performed, backups are stored offsite, and recovery procedures are tested. Proper backup and recovery mechanisms help mitigate the risk of data loss in case of a security incident.
6. Network security: Vulnerability assessments can evaluate the network security of the NAS device. This includes checking if firewalls are properly configured, intrusion detection systems are in place, and network traffic is monitored for any suspicious activities. Strengthening network security helps protect the NAS device and mitigate potential data loss risks.
7. Employee training and awareness: Security audits can assess the level of employee training and awareness regarding data security. This includes checking if employees are educated on best practices, such as avoiding phishing emails, using strong passwords, and reporting suspicious activities. Well-trained employees are less likely to engage in actions that could lead to data loss.

By regularly conducting vulnerability assessments and security audits, organizations can proactively identify and address potential data loss risks for NAS Thecus N4200 devices. This helps ensure the integrity and security of the stored data.

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

Although the NAS N4200 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 N4200. 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

N4200 has 4 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 10;
• 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 N4200 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