How to Prevent Data Loss on NAS Thecus N4510U PRO and Recover Deleted Files: Tips and Tricks

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.

How can a NAS Thecus N4510U PRO device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like Thecus N4510U PRO can have a significant impact on data transfer and potential loss. Here's how:

1. Data Transfer Speed: Network throughput determines the speed at which data can be transferred between the NAS device and other network-connected devices. A higher network throughput allows for faster data transfer, reducing the time required to upload or download files. Conversely, a lower throughput will result in slower data transfer speeds, which can be a bottleneck for data-intensive tasks.
2. Concurrent Users: The network throughput capacity also determines the number of concurrent users that can access and transfer data to/from the NAS device simultaneously. A higher throughput allows for more users to access the NAS without experiencing significant slowdowns or performance issues. If the throughput is limited, multiple users accessing and transferring data concurrently may experience reduced speeds and potential data loss due to timeouts or connection drops.
3. Streaming and Multimedia: NAS devices are often used for streaming multimedia content, such as videos or music, to various devices on the network. Higher network throughput enables smoother streaming experiences, reducing buffering times and ensuring uninterrupted playback. Insufficient throughput can cause buffering issues, leading to data loss in the form of interrupted or degraded media streams.
4. Backup and Synchronization: NAS devices are commonly used for data backup and synchronization across multiple devices. A higher network throughput allows for faster backup and synchronization processes, minimizing the time required to transfer data between devices. Inadequate throughput can result in delays or incomplete backups, potentially leading to data loss if backups are not properly performed.
5. RAID Rebuild and Data Recovery: NAS devices often employ RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations for data redundancy and protection against drive failures. In case of a drive failure, the NAS device needs to rebuild the RAID array by redistributing data across the remaining drives. A higher network throughput can significantly reduce the time required for RAID rebuilds and data recovery. Insufficient throughput can prolong the rebuild process, increasing the risk of data loss if another drive fails during the rebuild.

In summary, the network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS device like Thecus N4510U PRO directly impacts the speed of data transfer, the number of concurrent users it can handle, streaming performance, backup and synchronization efficiency, and RAID rebuild times. Insufficient throughput can lead to slower data transfer speeds, buffering issues, incomplete backups, and prolonged recovery processes, increasing the risk of potential data loss.

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

Although NAS N4510U PRO 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 N4510U PRO. 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

N4510U PRO 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;

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 N4510U PRO 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