How to Prevent Data Loss on NAS Thecus N8810U-G and Recover Deleted Files: Essential Tips

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Thecus N8810U-G
• 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.

Are there any recommended practices for protecting NAS Thecus N8810U-G devices against physical theft or unauthorized access that can lead to data loss?

Yes, there are several recommended practices for protecting NAS Thecus N8810U-G devices against physical theft or unauthorized access that can lead to data loss. Here are some best practices:

1. Physical Security: Ensure that the NAS device is physically secured in a locked room or cabinet to prevent unauthorized access. Limit access to only authorized personnel.
2. Strong Passwords: Set strong passwords for the NAS device's administrator account and user accounts. Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable passwords like birthdays or common words.
3. Firmware Updates: Regularly update the firmware of the NAS device to ensure it has the latest security patches and bug fixes. Manufacturers often release firmware updates to address vulnerabilities.
4. Network Segmentation: Consider placing the NAS device on a separate network segment or VLAN to isolate it from other devices on the network. This can help prevent unauthorized access to the NAS from compromised devices on the network.
5. Firewall and Access Control: Configure a firewall on the NAS device to restrict access to only necessary services and ports. Enable access control lists (ACLs) to specify which IP addresses or networks are allowed to access the NAS.
6. Encryption: Enable encryption on the NAS device to protect the data stored on it. Thecus N8810U-G supports AES 256-bit encryption, which provides a high level of security for your data.
7. User Permissions: Set up user accounts with appropriate permissions and access levels. Only grant necessary privileges to users to prevent unauthorized access or accidental deletion of important files.
8. Backup and Disaster Recovery: Regularly back up the data stored on the NAS device to an off-site location or another secure storage device. This ensures that even if the NAS is stolen or compromised, you can still recover your data.
9. Disable Unused Services: Disable any unnecessary services or protocols on the NAS device to minimize the attack surface and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
10. Monitoring and Auditing: Implement a system for monitoring and auditing the NAS device's activity. This can help detect any suspicious behavior or unauthorized access attempts.

By following these recommended practices, you can significantly enhance the security of your NAS Thecus N8810U-G device and protect it against physical theft or unauthorized access that can lead to data loss.

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

Although the NAS N8810U-G 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 N8810U-G. 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

N8810U-G 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 N8810U-G 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