RAID Disk File Access Without Functional NAS Uniview VX1624-C: Practical Steps

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Uniview VX1624-C
• 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 disk health monitoring and analysis help in preventing potential data loss on NAS Uniview VX1624-C devices?

Regular disk health monitoring and analysis can help prevent potential data loss on NAS Uniview VX1624-C devices in the following ways:

1. Early detection of disk failures: Disk health monitoring tools can constantly monitor the status and performance of the disks in the NAS device. They can alert the user or administrator about any signs of potential disk failures such as bad sectors, high temperature, or abnormal noise. By detecting these issues early on, steps can be taken to replace the faulty disk before it completely fails and causes data loss.
2. Predictive analysis: Disk health monitoring tools often employ predictive analysis algorithms to analyze the historical data of disk performance. These algorithms can identify patterns and trends that indicate the likelihood of a disk failure in the future. By using this predictive analysis, administrators can proactively replace disks that are at a higher risk of failure, reducing the chances of data loss.
3. RAID monitoring: NAS devices like Uniview VX1624-C often use RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations for data redundancy and protection. Disk health monitoring tools can monitor the health and status of each disk in the RAID array. They can detect any issues with individual disks, such as degraded performance or errors, and notify the user or administrator. This allows for timely replacement of the faulty disk and rebuilding of the RAID array, ensuring data integrity and preventing data loss.
4. Data backup and recovery: Disk health monitoring tools can also facilitate regular data backup and recovery processes. By monitoring the health of the disks, administrators can schedule automated backups of critical data to an external storage device or cloud storage. In the event of a disk failure, data can be recovered from the backups, minimizing the impact of data loss.

Overall, regular disk health monitoring and analysis provide essential insights into the status of the disks in NAS devices like Uniview VX1624-C. By detecting potential issues early on, taking proactive measures, and ensuring data redundancy through RAID configurations and backups, the risk of data loss can be significantly reduced.

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

Although the NAS VX1624-C 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 VX1624-C. 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

VX1624-C has 24 HDD slots, and it supports the following array types:

• RAID 0;
• RAID 1;
• RAID 5;
• RAID 6;
• RAID 50;
• RAID 60;
• JBOD;

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 VX1624-C 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