How to Access Files on a RAID Disk When NAS Uniview VS-R2010-A1L is Not Responsive: Comprehensive Guide

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Uniview VS-R2010-A1L
• 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 Uniview 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.

How can regular software updates and patches enhance the security and stability of NAS Uniview VS-R2010-A1L devices?

Regular software updates and patches can enhance the security and stability of NAS Uniview VS-R2010-A1L devices in several ways:

1. Security vulnerability fixes: Updates and patches often include fixes for known security vulnerabilities. By installing these updates, you ensure that any potential security loopholes in the device's software are addressed, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.
2. Bug fixes and stability improvements: Updates and patches also address bugs and stability issues in the device's software. By installing these updates, you can improve the overall performance and reliability of the NAS device, minimizing crashes, freezes, or other stability problems.
3. Compatibility improvements: Software updates and patches may also include compatibility improvements with other devices or software. By staying up to date, you can ensure that your NAS device works seamlessly with other components in your network, reducing any potential compatibility issues or conflicts.
4. New features and enhancements: Updates and patches may introduce new features, functionality, or performance optimizations to the NAS device. By keeping your device updated, you can take advantage of these improvements, enhancing your user experience and potentially increasing productivity.
5. Protection against emerging threats: Regular updates help protect your NAS device against emerging threats and malware. As new security risks and attack techniques emerge, manufacturers release updates to address these threats and provide additional layers of protection. By promptly installing updates, you can stay ahead of potential security risks and keep your data safe.

It is important to regularly check for updates and patches provided by the manufacturer and promptly install them to ensure the security and stability of your NAS Uniview VS-R2010-A1L device.

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

Although the NAS VS-R2010-A1L 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 Uniview VS-R2010-A1L. 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 Uniview

VS-R2010-A1L has 1 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• None 0;

NAS supports:

• exFAT, VFAT, FAT 12 / 16 / 32;
• NTFS / ReFS;
• APFS / HFS+;
• Ext2 / 3 / 4 / ReiserFS / XFS / UFS / ZFS / Btrfs;
• VMFS / HikvisionFS;

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 Uniview VS-R2010-A1L 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