Preventing Data Loss on NAS Thecus N8910 and Recovering Deleted Files: Complete Manual

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.

How can a NAS Thecus N8910 device's network throughput or bandwidth capacity affect data transfer and potential loss?

The network throughput or bandwidth capacity of a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device like Thecus N8910 can significantly affect data transfer and potential loss in the following ways:

1. Data Transfer Speed: A higher network throughput or bandwidth capacity allows for faster data transfer rates between the NAS device and connected devices on the network. This means that large files or backups can be transferred more quickly, reducing the time required for data transfer.
2. Concurrent Connections: The network throughput capacity determines the number of concurrent connections that the NAS device can handle simultaneously. If the bandwidth capacity is limited, it may lead to slower data transfer speeds or even connection drops when multiple users or devices are accessing the NAS simultaneously.
3. Potential Data Loss: Insufficient network throughput can result in data loss or corruption during data transfer. If the available bandwidth is not enough to handle the data being transferred, packets may be dropped or corrupted, leading to incomplete or damaged files on the NAS.
4. Backup and Recovery: A higher network throughput allows for faster backup and recovery operations. If the bandwidth capacity is limited, it may take longer to back up or restore data, increasing the risk of potential data loss in case of system failures or disasters.
5. Remote Access and Streaming: Network throughput also affects the performance of remote access and media streaming from the NAS device. Insufficient bandwidth can cause buffering or lagging issues while streaming media or accessing files remotely, degrading the user experience.

To mitigate these potential issues, it is essential to ensure that the network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and network cables, can support the desired network throughput. Additionally, optimizing network settings, such as using link aggregation or Quality of Service (QoS) features, can help prioritize and allocate bandwidth effectively to prevent data transfer bottlenecks or potential loss.

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

Although NAS N8910 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 N8910. 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

N8910 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 N8910 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