- 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?
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 user training or education help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Thecus N8880U devices?
User training or education can help in minimizing data loss incidents on NAS Thecus N8880U devices in the following ways:
- Understanding data backup: Users should be educated on the importance of regular data backups and how to perform them on the NAS device. This includes setting up scheduled backups, selecting appropriate backup destinations, and verifying the integrity of the backup data.
- Security best practices: Users should be trained on security best practices such as creating strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly updating the NAS firmware and software to protect against vulnerabilities.
- Access control and permissions: Users should be educated on how to set up access control and permissions to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive data. This includes creating user accounts with appropriate access levels and ensuring that only trusted individuals have administrative privileges.
- Network security: Users should be trained on network security measures such as enabling firewalls, configuring secure remote access protocols (e.g., VPN), and monitoring network traffic for any suspicious activities.
- Data encryption: Users should be educated on the importance of data encryption to protect sensitive information stored on the NAS device. This includes enabling encryption for shared folders and implementing secure transmission protocols (e.g., HTTPS) for remote access.
- Regular maintenance and monitoring: Users should be trained on performing regular maintenance tasks such as checking for firmware updates, monitoring system logs for any anomalies, and ensuring that the NAS device has sufficient storage capacity to avoid data loss due to disk failures.
- Disaster recovery planning: Users should be educated on disaster recovery planning, including creating backup strategies, documenting recovery procedures, and testing the recovery process to ensure data can be restored in case of a data loss incident.
Overall, user training and education can empower users to take proactive measures to protect their data and minimize the risk of data loss incidents on NAS devices like Thecus N8880U.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS N8880U 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:
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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.
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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.
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Make sure to mark each hard disk in accordance with how they were installed inside the NAS.
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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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Restoring data with Hetman RAID Recovery
This program recovers data from damaged RAID arrays and is fully compatible with Thecus N8880U. 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.
N8880U 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:
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Make sure that you have enough free space to save the image. The image file size usually equals the disk size.
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Select the disk in the main window, and choose from the menu Tools – Save Disk. You can select multiple disks to be saved.
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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.
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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 N8880U 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
Product | Operating system | License type | RAID controller support | Supported file systems | Virtual RAID controller support | Data recovery from damaged RAID | File preview |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetman RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DiskInternals RAID Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 200 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UFS Explorer RAID Recovery | Windows, Mac, Linux | Paid | Yes, over 1,000 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EaseUS Data Recovery | Windows | Paid | Yes, over 20 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | No | Yes | Yes |
ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery | Windows | Free | Yes, over 100 controllers | FAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, HFS+ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes, data recovery from a NAS device like Thecus N8880U can still be possible even if the device is experiencing network congestion or bandwidth issues. In such cases, the data recovery process might be slower or more challenging due to the limitations in network speed, but it can still be done.
One approach to recover the data is to connect the NAS device directly to a computer using an Ethernet cable, bypassing the network congestion. This allows for a more direct and faster data transfer between the NAS and the computer, improving the chances of successful data recovery.
Another option is to use specialized data recovery software or services that can handle network-related issues. These tools are designed to optimize data recovery processes in situations where network performance is compromised.
It's important to note that if the NAS device is experiencing hardware failures or other issues unrelated to network congestion, data recovery may require professional assistance from data recovery experts or specialized services.