RAID Disk File Access When NAS Uniview VX3060-V2@S is Not Working: Practical Steps

Contents

• Why Regular Data Recovery Tools Can’t Restore Files from RAID
• Key Information About the NAS Uniview VX3060-V2@S
• 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 RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations impact data loss in NAS Uniview VX3060-V2@S devices?

RAID configurations can have a significant impact on data loss in NAS Uniview VX3060-V2@S devices. Here are a few ways RAID can affect data loss:

1. Redundancy: RAID configurations, such as RAID 1 or RAID 5, provide redundancy by distributing data across multiple disks. In case of a disk failure, the data can be reconstructed from the remaining disks. This helps to minimize data loss and ensures high availability.
2. Fault tolerance: RAID configurations with parity, like RAID 5 or RAID 6, can tolerate the failure of one or more disks without losing data. The parity information is used to rebuild the data on the failed disk(s). This fault tolerance protects against data loss due to disk failures.
3. Performance impact: Some RAID configurations, like RAID 0, offer improved performance by striping data across multiple disks. However, RAID 0 does not provide redundancy, so if one disk fails, all data on that RAID set will be lost. Therefore, the choice of RAID configuration should consider the trade-off between performance and data protection.
4. Rebuilding process: When a failed disk is replaced in a RAID configuration, the rebuilding process starts to restore the data onto the new disk. During this time, the RAID set is vulnerable to further disk failures. If another disk fails before the rebuilding process completes, data loss can occur. It is crucial to monitor the rebuilding process and ensure backups are available during this time.
5. RAID controller failure: The RAID controller in a NAS device manages the RAID configuration and disk operations. If the RAID controller fails, it can lead to data loss or corruption. Regular backups and redundant RAID controllers can mitigate this risk.

It is important to note that while RAID configurations can provide protection against certain types of data loss, they are not a substitute for regular backups. Backing up important data to an external storage or cloud-based solution is always recommended to ensure data integrity and availability.

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

Although the NAS VX3060-V2@S 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 VX3060-V2@S. 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

VX3060-V2@S has 60 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 VX3060-V2@S 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