Practical Steps for Accessing Files on a RAID Disk Without Accessible NAS Uniview VX3048-V2

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Uniview VX3048-V2
• 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 the use of specific file-sharing protocols impact data loss risks on NAS Uniview VX3048-V2 devices?

The use of specific file-sharing protocols can impact data loss risks on NAS Uniview VX3048-V2 devices in the following ways:

1. Insecure protocols: Some file-sharing protocols, such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol), do not provide encryption for data transmission. This can increase the risk of data interception and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
2. Lack of access controls: Certain protocols may not offer robust access control mechanisms, allowing anyone with network access to potentially modify or delete files. This can lead to accidental or intentional data loss.
3. Vulnerabilities in protocol implementations: File-sharing protocols may have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access or execute malicious actions on the NAS device. These vulnerabilities can increase the risk of data loss.
4. Compatibility issues: Different file-sharing protocols may have varying levels of compatibility with different operating systems and devices. Incompatibility can lead to data corruption or loss during file transfers.
5. Limited auditing and logging capabilities: Some protocols may not provide detailed auditing and logging features, making it challenging to track and investigate data loss incidents. This can hinder the identification of the root cause and the recovery of lost data.

To mitigate these risks, it is advisable to:

• Use secure file-sharing protocols such as SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS (HTTP Secure) that provide encryption for data transmission.
• Implement strong access controls, including user authentication, permissions, and role-based access control (RBAC), to restrict unauthorized access to files.
• Regularly update the NAS device's firmware and file-sharing protocol implementations to patch any known vulnerabilities.
• Employ network security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to protect the NAS device from external threats.
• Regularly backup data stored on the NAS device to a separate location or cloud storage to ensure data recovery in case of loss or corruption.
• Enable auditing and logging features to monitor file-sharing activities and detect any suspicious or unauthorized actions.
• Educate users about secure file-sharing practices, such as avoiding the use of insecure protocols and being cautious while granting access permissions to files and folders.

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

Although the NAS VX3048-V2 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 VX3048-V2. 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

VX3048-V2 has 48 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 VX3048-V2 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