RAID Array Recovery on NAS Thecus N5200: Recovery Steps for 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.

What are the risks of data loss due to firmware or software malfunctions in NAS Thecus N5200 devices?

The risks of data loss due to firmware or software malfunctions in NAS Thecus N5200 devices include:

1. Data corruption: Firmware or software malfunctions can cause data corruption, leading to the loss of files or the inability to access them. This can be due to errors in the firmware code or bugs in the software.
2. System instability: Malfunctions can result in system instability, causing the NAS device to crash or become unresponsive. In such cases, data may become inaccessible or prone to corruption.
3. Incomplete backups: If the firmware or software malfunctions during a backup process, it may result in incomplete or corrupted backups. This can lead to data loss if the original files are damaged or lost.
4. Disk failure: Firmware or software issues can put excessive stress on the hard drives, potentially leading to premature disk failure. If a disk fails, it can result in data loss if there is no redundancy or backup in place.
5. Inability to recover data: In some cases, firmware or software malfunctions can make it difficult or impossible to recover data from the NAS device. This can occur if the malfunction affects the file system or the ability to access the data stored on the drives.
6. Security vulnerabilities: Malfunctions in the firmware or software can expose the NAS device to security vulnerabilities, making it susceptible to unauthorized access or data breaches. This can result in data loss or compromise of sensitive information.

To mitigate these risks, it is important to regularly update the firmware and software of the NAS device to the latest versions provided by Thecus. Additionally, implementing a robust backup strategy, including offsite backups and redundancy, can help protect against data loss in case of firmware or software malfunctions.

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

Although NAS N5200 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 N5200. 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

N5200 has 5 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 N5200 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