RAID Array Recovery on NAS Thecus N8800PRO: Essential Tips for When It Breaks

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Thecus N8800PRO
• 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 hardware failure lead to data loss in NAS Thecus N8800PRO devices?

Hardware failure in NAS Thecus N8800PRO devices can lead to data loss in several ways:

1. Hard Drive Failure: The most common hardware failure in NAS devices is the failure of one or more hard drives. If a hard drive fails in the NAS, it can result in the loss of all the data stored on that drive.
2. RAID Controller Failure: NAS devices like the Thecus N8800PRO often use RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) technology to provide data redundancy and improve performance. If the RAID controller fails, it can lead to data loss or corruption across all the drives in the RAID array.
3. Power Supply Failure: A faulty or failed power supply can cause the NAS device to shut down abruptly, potentially leading to data loss or corruption if any write operations were in progress at the time of the failure.
4. Overheating: NAS devices generate a significant amount of heat, and if the cooling system fails or is inadequate, it can result in overheating of the hardware components. Overheating can cause damage to the hard drives, motherboard, or other critical components, leading to data loss.
5. Firmware or Software Corruption: Hardware failures can sometimes cause firmware or software corruption in the NAS device. If the firmware or software becomes corrupted, it may not be able to access or retrieve the data stored on the drives, resulting in data loss.
6. Network or Connectivity Issues: Hardware failures in the network interface card (NIC) or other networking components of the NAS device can lead to connectivity issues. If the NAS cannot connect to the network, it may not be accessible, resulting in data loss.

To mitigate the risk of data loss due to hardware failure, it is important to regularly back up the data stored on the NAS device to an external storage medium or a cloud backup service. Additionally, monitoring the health of the hardware components, ensuring proper cooling and ventilation, and using redundant hardware configurations like RAID can help minimize the impact of hardware failures on data loss.

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

Although the NAS N8800PRO 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 N8800PRO. 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

N8800PRO has 8 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• 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 N8800PRO 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