How to recover data from Thecus N8810U-G NAS

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.

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

Although NAS N8810U-G 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 N8810U-G. 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

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;

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 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.

Comparison of software for RAID recovery