- 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 software bugs or glitches impact data integrity on NAS Thecus SY2340 devices?
Software bugs or glitches on NAS Thecus SY2340 devices can impact data integrity in several ways:
- Data corruption: Bugs or glitches in the software can cause data corruption, where the stored data becomes unreadable or unusable. This can lead to loss of important files or damage to the integrity of the data.
- Data loss: In some cases, software bugs or glitches can result in the loss of data stored on the NAS device. This can occur due to improper handling of files, incorrect data synchronization, or other software-related issues.
- Inaccurate data backups: NAS devices often have built-in backup features to protect data. However, if there are bugs or glitches in the backup software, it can lead to inaccurate or incomplete backups. This can compromise data integrity and make it difficult to restore data in case of a failure or disaster.
- Security vulnerabilities: Software bugs or glitches can also introduce security vulnerabilities in the NAS device. Hackers or malicious actors can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to the device and manipulate or steal data. This can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the stored data.
- Performance degradation: Some software bugs or glitches can cause performance issues on the NAS device, such as slow file transfers, unresponsive interfaces, or system crashes. These performance problems can impact data integrity by making it difficult to access or modify data reliably.
To mitigate these risks, it is important to regularly update the firmware and software of the NAS device to the latest versions provided by Thecus. Additionally, implementing proper backup strategies, such as regular data backups to external storage or cloud services, can help protect against data loss. Monitoring the device for any unusual behavior or error messages and promptly reporting and addressing any software bugs or glitches to Thecus support can also help maintain data integrity on NAS devices.
How to take hard disks out of the NAS and connect them to a PC?
Although NAS SY2340 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 SY2340. 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.
SY2340 has 2 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:
- RAID 0;
- RAID 1;
- 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 SY2340 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, it is possible to recover data from a NAS device that has been affected by a virus or malware infection. However, the process may vary depending on the severity of the infection and the specific steps taken to mitigate it.
Here are some general steps to recover data from a virus or malware-infected NAS device:
It is important to note that the success of data recovery depends on various factors such as the severity of the infection, the effectiveness of the antivirus software, and the extent of damage caused by the virus or malware. In some cases, it may be necessary to seek professional help from data recovery specialists.